Ukraine's agricultural sector
In 2022, Ukraine's utilised agricultural area covered 41.3 million hectares, including 32.7 million hectares of arable land (State Statistics Service of Ukraine (SSSU)). This agricultural area makes Ukraine the largest agricultural country on the European continent. 45% of the country's surface area is made up of particularly fertile humus-rich soils, known as "rich" chernozioms. These are found mainly in the country's central plain.
Figure 1 - Production of the main types of agricultural products in volume (tons) in Ukraine in 2021 Source: FAOStat
Figure 2 - Figure 2 - Production of the main types of Production of the main types of agricultural products, excluding meat, agricultural products, excluding meat, by by value (thousands of US dollars) value (thousands of US dollars) iin n Ukraine in 2021 Ukraine in 2021 Source Source: FAOStat : FAOStat
Note Note :: data data not available for meat. not available for meat.
The country mainly produces cereals (corn, wheat, barley), potatoes, sunflower seeds and sugar beet.
VALEUR
Figure 3 - Evolution of production of the main types of agricultural products (in tons) in Ukraine Source: FAOStat
Note: 2022 data not available for meat.
FARMSTRUCTURE
Marked by its communist past, the Ukrainian agricultural sector is characterised by 110 huge vertically integrated agricultural companies, known as agro-holdings*, which control all or part of the production chain (cultivation-breeding, processing, trade). Their aim is to achieve a return on capital invested, and to achieve this they invest in state-of-the-art, large-scale equipment and in the use of inputs. 20 of these companies account for 14% of Ukraine's Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA).
57% of the UAA is farmed by companies of more than 1,000 ha.
Figure 4 - Figure 4 - Farm structure Farm structure in Ukraine in 2021. in Ukraine in 2021
Source : Source : based on data from based on data from the State Statistics Service of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine (SSSU) Ukraine (SSSU).
ADRIVINGFORCEINTHEUKRAINIANECONOMY
Agriculture plays a major economic role in Ukraine, accounting for 10.9% of GDP in 2021 and nearly 14.7% of employment (World Bank). In comparison, the sector accounts for 1.4% of European GDP and 4.2% of employment (Eurostat). In 2021, agricultural products accounted for 41% of Ukrainian exports, worth 27 billion dollars
The sector, which has been severely affected by the current conflict, is estimated to have suffered the equivalent of $80 billion in damage and losses (World Bank), and its reconstruction is estimated to cost at least $56 billion (World Bank, 2023), not including mine clearance ($32 billion).
PRODUCTION - SUNFLOWER
For the 2023-24 season, the Ukrainian sunflower crop is estimated at 6 million hectares (USDA), 1.2 million hectares more than in the European Union. However, this is 7% less than the five-
year average (USDA). In 2021, the sunflower area harvested in the European Union will correspond to 66% of the Ukrainian area, rising to 80% in 2023
Total surface area 6 million ha
Figure 5 - Area of sunflower harvested by Ukrainian oblast in 2022. Source: based on data from the State Statistical Service of Ukraine (SSSU).
Note:
data for the Kherson region is for 2021, as data for 2022 is not available due to the war.
Sunflowers tend to be grown in the centre-east of the country, and are mainly sown from April to early June, with harvesting generally taking place in September-October Less than 1% of total sunflower production is irrigated (years 2020-22, National Statistical Service of Ukraine (SSSU))
Total production 11.3 million tonnes
Figure 6 - Ukrainian sunflower production basins, 2022. Sources: based on data from the State Statistical Service of Ukraine (SSSU).
Note: data for the Kherson region is for 2021, as data for 2022 is not available due to the war.
In 2021, Ukraine produced 16.3 million tonnes of sunflower, and the harvest is estimated at 14.5 million tonnes for the 2023/24 season (USDA). Ukraine's average production is 1.6 times that of the European Union (5-year average 2019/20-2023/24). In 2021, the European Union will account for 64% of Ukraine's production volume, with output of 10.3 million tonnes. In other words, Ukraine accounted for 157% of European production in 2021.
If Ukraine were to join the European Union, it would become Europe's leading sunflower producer, ahead of Romania (2.8 million tonnes in 2021), Bulgaria (2.0 million tonnes) and France (1.9 million tonnes).
The average Ukrainian wheat yield was 22 qt/ha in 2022, but varies widely from region to region. Details of yields for Ukraine and the European Union are available in Figure 8. YIELD
Average yield 22 qt/ha
Figure 7 - Ukrainian sunflower yields by oblast, 2022. Source: based on data from the State Statistical Service of Ukraine (SSSU)
Note: data for the Kherson region is for 2021, as data for 2022 is not available due to the war
Overall, Ukrainian yields are the same or even higher than European yields. Before the war, the average Ukrainian yield over five years (2018-2021) was 23 qt/ha, the same as in the European Union (FAOStat).
Figure 8 - Sunflower yield trends for Ukraine and the European Union Source: based on FAOStat data (*2023 and 2024 refer to USDA Sept 2023/Aug 2024 and Sept 2024/Aug 2025 data).
GMOS
Ukrainian legislation on the use of GMOs is unclear and has reportedly hindered the development of their use in the country. However, according to the USDA's UP2022-00 report "Biotechnology and Other New Production Technologies Annual" (2020), unofficial GMO cultivation in Ukraine currently involves around 50-65% of soya, 10-12% of rapeseed and less than 1% of maize. GM seeds are therefore used, but not registered as such.
In addition, on 23 August 2023 the country adopted a law on the regulation by the State of genetic engineering activities and the control by the State of the circulation of genetically modified organisms and genetically modified products (Law no 3339-IX) This will come into force on , and is designed to
16 September 2026 prohibit in particular "the research and testing of genetically modified maize in an open system, its registration by the State, its placing on the market and its import into the customs territory of Ukraine, with the exception of import for the purposes of scientific research in a closed system in the presence of an appropriate permit".
NEW GENOMIC TECHNIQUES (NGT)
The use of NGTs is not mentioned in Ukrainian legislation, and does not yet appear to be on the legislative agenda. The only articles mentioning NGT provide an overview of European discussions, without ever drawing any parallels with Ukraine
CARBON PERFORMANCE
The high fertility of Ukrainian soils means that crops require less nutrient input than the European average Nutrient inputs (nitrogen, potash and phosphate fertilisers) are on average 1.5 times lower in Ukraine than in the European Union.
PHOSPHATE FERTILISERS P205
NITROGEN
Figure 9 - Use of NPK nutrients per area of cultivated land.
Source: based on FAOStat data
POTASSE K2O
On average, Ukrainian arable production performs better than European production.
In addition, nutrient consumption in Ukraine is higher in agro-holdings than in employers' companies The latter are less inclined to use this costly parameter to increase their yields.
PESTICIDES
Figure 10 - Nutrient use per area of cropland in 2021.
Source: based on FAOStat data.
1.5 times less fertiliser used in Ukraine than in the European Union
Ukrainian legislation on pesticides is more flexible than European legislation. Several active substances banned in the European Union are authorised in Ukraine. These include Smetholachlor, a powerful herbicide used on maize and sugar beet crops (banned in the EU since April 2024), and dimethomorph, a fungicide used in particular on sunflower crops. It should be noted, however, that some European countries have exemptions for the use of active substances banned in the European Union, such as France, Romania and Poland in the case of dimethomorph. Details are available in Appendix 2.
As part of Ukraine's accession to the European Union, the country will have to comply with European legislation. With this in mind, Ukraine has already undertaken a number of legislative reforms, including a draft law on plant protection products and fertilisers (no.11062; 4 March 2024), which should bring Ukrainian legislation into line with EU regulations on market access for plant protection products, their active ingredients and fertilisers.
PRODUCTION - SUNFLOWER OIL
In 2023, Ukraine produced 6.1 million tonnes of sunflower oil. Although several crushing plants were affected by Russian strikes in 2022, it would appear that the crushing capacity of the country's plants is now almost back to pre-war levels (USDA).
FAOStat and USDA data.
Note: *2022 and 2023 refer to USDA data Sept 2022/Aug 2023 and Sept 2023/Aug 2024 (forecast)
Before the war, Ukraine produced on average 1.6 times more sunflower oil than the European Union as a whole (average for 2019/21).
If Ukraine were to join the European Union, and based on 2021 figures, Ukraine would become Europe's leading sunflower oil producer, ahead of Hungary (0.6 million tonnes in 2021), Bulgaria (0 6 million tonnes) and France (0 5 million tonnes)
Figure 11 - Sunflower oil production for Ukraine (left) and the European Union (right). Source: based on
EXPORTS AND IMPACT ON EUROPEAN FLOWSSUNFLOWER SEEDS
Ukraine exported 0.8 million tonnes of sunflower seeds in 2023, an 85% increase on 2019/21.
THE EU, UKRAINE'S LEADING PARTNER FOR SUNFLOWER OIL
Figure 12 - Evolution of Ukrainian sunflower seed exports. Source: based on WITS (World Integrated Trade Solution) data, World Bank
Between 2019/21 and 2023, imports of sunflower seeds from Ukraine increased fivefold. The European Union will account for 75% of Ukrainian sunflower exports in 2023, compared with 40% in 2019/21. In 2023, Ukraine accounted for 56% of sunflower seed imports into the European Union (517,000 tonnes), ahead of Moldova (30%). Imports of sunflower seeds rose sharply in 2022, reaching 2 4 million tonnes, including 1 8 million tonnes from Ukraine, before rapidly returning to pre-war levels in 2023.
UKRAINE, THE EU'S LEADING SUPPLIER OF SUNFLOWER SEEDS
Figure 13 - Sunflower seeds imported by the EU-27 from its main suppliers (outside the EU) and Ukraine, and Ukraine's share of European imports Source: based on Eurostat data
Furthermore, the increase in imports from Ukraine has been at the expense of Russia, which has seen its exports to the European Union fall by 99% between 2019/21 and 2023 (-205,000 tonnes)
Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania are the main gateways for Ukrainian sunflower seed exports, accounting for 68% of European imports from Ukraine.
Figure 14 - Trend in volumes of sunflower seeds imported by the EU-27, in tonnes. Source: based on Eurostat data
Between 2019/21 and 2023, Bulgaria increased its imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds by a factor of 2.3 (+ 103,000 tonnes), and accounted for 28% of European imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds in 2023.
Over the same period, Hungary increased its imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds by a factor of 342 (+87,000 tonnes), and Romania by a factor of 44 (+80,000 tonnes)
Details of sunflower seed imports and exports for the 6 main European gateways for Ukrainian sunflower (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Portugal, Spain and France) are available in Annexes 6 to 11.
EXPORTS AND IMPACT ON EUROPEAN FLOWSSUNFLOWER OIL
Ukraine is the world's leading exporter of sunflower oil, ahead of the European Union, Argentina and
Turkey In 2023, the country exported 5.2 million tonnes of sunflower oil, 6 5 times more than the second largest exporter, the European Union.
Overall, Ukraine exported the same volumes in 2023 as the 2020-2022 average. In addition, Ukraine exported the equivalent of 95% of national sunflower oil production in 2021. Ukrainian consumption of sunflower oil is currently estimated at less than 10 of domestic production (USDA)
UKRAINE, THE WORLD'S LEADING EXPORTER OF SUNFLOWER OIL
Figure 15 - World's top 10 sunflower oil exporting countries in 2023. Source: based on WITS (World Integrated Trade Solution) data, World Bank.
Note: exports here represent gross exports (excluding re-exports)
It should be noted that Russian export data is not available for 2022 and 2023. In 2021, Russia was the world's second largest exporter of sunflower oil behind Ukraine, with 1 9 million tonnes exported compared with 5.6 million tonnes for Ukraine (WITS, World Bank), i.e. 3 times less.
Figure 16 - Evolution of Ukrainian sunflower oil exports. Source: based on WITS (World Integrated Trade Solution) data, World Bank.
Between 2019/21 and 2023, imports of sunflower oil from Ukraine have increased by 7% (+ 126,000 tonnes) in the European Union.
UKRAINE, THE EU'S LEADING SUPPLIER OF SUNFLOWER OIL
Figure 17 - Sunflower oil imported by the EU-27 from its main suppliers (outside the EU) and Ukraine, and Ukraine's share of European imports. Source: based on Eurostat data.
In 2023, Ukraine accounted for 91% of sunflower oil imports into the European Union (1.9 million tonnes). The increase in Ukrainian sunflower oil imports also corresponds to net imports (+380,000 tonnes between 2021 and 2023), since traditional imports from Serbia, Moldova and the United Kingdom have not decreased. Moreover, Ukraine has always been Europe's leading partner for sunflower oil over the past 10 years.
Poland, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands are the main gateways for Ukrainian sunflower oil exports, accounting for 72% of European imports from Ukraine.
Between 2019/21 and 2023, Poland increased its imports of Ukrainian sunflower oil by a factor of 3.5 (+300,000 tonnes), and accounted for 23% of European imports in 2023. Bulgaria increased its imports by a factor of 13 between 2019/21 and 2023 (+189,000 tonnes). As Italy, the Netherlands and Spain are traditional importers for Ukraine, import volumes remained stable overall.
Figure 18 - Trend in volumes of sunflower oil imported by the EU-27, in tonnes. Source: based on Eurostat data.
INWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENTS (IPA)
Inward-processing arrangements allow European companies to import goods duty-free, which are then processed in Europe and re-exported. The aim is twofold: financial, by exempting these companies from customs duties and taxes; and economic, by encouraging European processing and making companies more competitive when reexporting. The rules of origin for sunflowers imported under the RPA do not apply.
In the past, Ukrainian sunflower oil under RPA has been imported by the European Union (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2022). However, these volumes remained marginal and exceptional.
Figure 19 - Sunflower oil imported by the EU-27 from Ukraine under the RPA Source: based on Eurostat data.
ORGANISATION OF THE SUNFLOWER SECTOR
The proportion of large agricultural businesses involved in production varies according to the type of production Unlike the sugar industry, households* account for a significant proportion of sunflower production (12%).
Figure 20 - Share of production of the various agricultural structures in the total production of cereals, sugar beet and sunflower seeds in 2022 Source: based on data from the State Statistical Service of Ukraine (SSSU).
While all farms* produce 88% of Ukraine's cereals and pulses, farms of less than 1,000 hectares account for 58% of the country's sunflower production. This represents a total of 17,281 agricultural enterprises (not including personal farming households), or 95% of Ukrainian agricultural enterprises. Sunflower seed production is therefore not entirely controlled by the large Ukrainian farming structures (of which the 110 agro-holdings are a part), although the 141 sunflowerproducing companies with more than 3,000 ha still account for 17% of total production.
*Ukrainian farms fall into two main categories: agricultural enterprises and personal farming households Personal farming households are responsible for the majority of fruit, vegetable and potato production, which is mainly destined for selfconsumption and short distribution channels
Figure 21 - Agricultural businesses and households, 2022: (a) sunflower seed production in thousands of tonnes; (b) number of structures producing sunflower seeds (excluding households). Source: based on data from the State Statistical Service of Ukraine (SSSU).
It should be noted, however, that these large structures do not own the land they farm, as in Ukraine it is necessary to have Ukrainian nationality in order to be a landowner. In addition, since the new agrarian reform of 1 January 2024 (law 552-X on amending certain legislative acts of Ukraine concerning the conditions for the movement of agricultural land), the maximum surface area authorised per individual and legal entity is 10,000 ha. As a result, agroholdings lease agricultural land to hundreds of landowners, some of whom own only a few hectares of land.
Figure 15 - Main Ukrainian agro-holdings producing sunflower seeds, and total farmed area for all crops in 2021. Source: Latifundist and official company websites.
UKRAINIAN processors
10 processors, including 2 agro-holdings, shown in table 2, are responsible for 72% of the country's sunflower oil production.
Kernel is the market leader, accounting for 27% of the Ukrainian market, or 5% of global production. The agro-holding, which specialises in growing maize, wheat, sunflower and soya, also owns 8 processing plants, as well as an export terminal, the first private network of domestic grain silos in Ukraine (storage capacity of 2.3 million tonnes), and a private fleet of grain wagons Kernel accounts for 8% of the world's sunflower oil exports
Figure 22 - Vertical integration of Kernel, Ukraine's leading agroholding. Source: Kernel website.
Table 2 - Top 10 producers of unrefined sunflower oil in Ukraine for the 2019/20 season.
Source: Latifundist and official company websites
Company
Type of structure
agroholding (crops, livestock, sunflower processing)
Bunge Ukraine
Optimus Agro
MHP (Myronivsky Hliboprodukt)
ViOil
ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) Trading Ukraine
Cargill Kernel
Allseeds
Delta Wilmar CIS
COFCO Agri Ukraine
processor (sunflower), trader, exporter (subsidiary of Bunge Limited)
processor (sunflower oil), exporter
agroholding (crops, livestock, sunflowers)
processor (sunflower)
processor and exporter (subsidiary of the US group ADM)
processor (sunflower) and exporter
processor (sunflower, rapeseed) and exporter
processor (sunflower), exporter (subsidiary of Vitrera, present in 37 countries worldwide)
exporter (subsidiary of the Chinese group COFCO)
COST OF PRODUCTION - SUNFLOWER
Ukraine is a competitive agricultural power. According to government figures, sunflower production in Ukraine will cost €231 per tonne in 2020, while operating costs for sunflowers in France are between €250 and €350 per hectare, according to CER France.
Other general and administrative expenses
Payments for third-party services
Depreciation of fixed assets
Deductions for social purposes
Labour costs
Other direct costs
Petroleum products
Inorganic fertilisers
Seeds and planting material
Figure 23 - Ukrainian production costs for sunflower in 2019 and 2020, in €/tonne Source: based on data from the Ukrainian National Statistical Service (SSSU).
Note: only agricultural businesses with an area of agricultural land equal to or greater than 200 hectares and/or an area of covered land equal to or greater than 5 hectares are counted.
SUNFLOWER sector
CONCLUSION
Unlike the sugar industry, cereal production is not entirely controlled by the large agricultural structures of which the 110 Ukrainian agro-holdings are a part. As such, 58% of sunflower seed production is carried out by structures of less than 1,000 hectares. It should be noted, however, that the concentration of production by very large structures remains high: the 141 cereal companies with more than 3,000 ha, including the agro-holdings, account for 17% of total sunflower seed production.
Ukrainian production amounted to 14.5 million tonnes of sunflower seeds in 2023, or 145% of European production. If Ukraine were to join the European Union, and if current production methods were to be maintained, the country would be Europe's leading producer of sunflower seeds, as well as Europe's leading producer of sunflower oil.
Although 2022 saw an explosion in sunflower seed exports, particularly to the European Union, it remains an exceptional year Ukraine is the world's leading exporter of sunflower oil, with 5 2 million tonnes exported in 2023. Ukraine has also been the EU's leading supplier of sunflower oil for around ten years The opening up of the European market to Ukraine following the war has therefore had no significant impact on the flow of sunflower oil from Ukraine.
APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Pesticide use in Ukraine for the main cereal crops (kg/ha). Source: based on data from the National Statistical Service of Ukraine (SSSU).
k g / h a
Appendix 2: Active substances authorized in Ukraine and banned in the European Union(non-exhaustivelist).Source:basedondatafromtheUkrainianMinistryofthe EnvironmentandtheEuropeanCommission.
acetochlor herbicide sunflower, corn, soybean, cucurbits
ammonium glufosinate herbicide sunflower, soybean, corn, wheat, rapeseed
atrazine herbicide corn, sorghum
bacillus firmus I-1582 nematicide (biocide) corn, sugar beet
benomyl fungicide
cereal crops (winter wheat), sugar beet, ornamental flowers (roses)
beta-cyfluthrin insecticide wheat, sunflower
beta-cypermethrin insecticide wheat, barley, oats, potatoes
bifenthrin insecticide & acaricide
bispyribac-sodium herbicide
wheat, spring barley, sugar beet, rapeseed, corn, sunflower, soybean, apple, vine, cucumber, rose
BE, DE, DK, EL, IT, PT, SE
boric acid antiseptic, insecticide tournesol, maïs, céréales (blé, orge), fleur, plante ornementale
brodifacoum rodenticide (biocide) (winter) cereals, winter rape, fruit plantations, storage areas (mice, rodents)
bromadiolone rodenticide (biocide) storage areas (mice, rodents)
carbendazim fungicide
wheat, barley, sugar beet, sunflower, rye, peas, rice, soybeans
*This information is updated once a year on the European Commission website, and may not reflect the actual situation in member states.
chlorothalonil fungicide winter wheat
clofentezine acaricide
clothianidine insecticide
soy, apple, grape, strawberry, hop BE, EL, HR, IT, LU, PT, SI, SK
spring wheat, spring barley, corn, sunflower -
diflovidazine (flufenzine) insecticide & acaricide soybean
diflubenzuron insecticide
dimethoate insecticide & acaricide
dimethomorph fungicide
corn, apple, cabbage, sunflower, soybean -
cereals (wheat, barley); apple and pear trees; vineyards; sugar beets; peas (grain); hops; soybeans; rapeseed; oats; potatoes; corn, sunflower, soybeans, tomatoes, onions
potato, tomato, soybean, sunflower, onion, cucumber, grapevine
diquat herbicide
epoxiconazole fungicide
famoxadone fungicide
fipronil
flumetsulam herbicide
flutriafol fungicide
imazapyr fungicide
hops, rice, potatoes, onions, soybeans, sunflowers, peas, cabbage, alfalfa, sorghum, carrots, beets (sugar, table, fodder), red clover, turnips, flax, rapeseed, fodder beans, radishes, orchards, vines
AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, EL, FR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
wheat, barley, sugar beet, soybean, sunflower, corn HU, PT
potato, tomato, vine, sunflower, soybean, onion, cucumber HR, PT
potato, sunflower, corn, tomato, sugar beet, hops, soybean, wheat, barley
cereals (wheat, barley, oats, rye), soybeans -
cereals (wheat, barley, rye), peas, sugar beet, apples, rapeseed, sunflower, rice, corn, vines, soybeans HR, PT
wheat, barley, sugar beet, sunflower, rye, peas, rice, soybeans
imidacloprid insecticide (neonicotinoid)
ipconazole
isoproturon
lufenuron
mancozeb
(growth regulator)
methyl thiophanate fungicide
metolachlor
novaluron
pencycuron
picoxystrobin
phosphoric acid
used as a precursor in the manufacture of organophosphate pesticides (insecticide, acaricide)
wheat, corn, rapeseed, potato, sugar beet, sunflower, grapevine, tomato, apple, plum, eggplant, tomato, onion, rye, sorghum
canola, orge
pear, vine
potato, tomato, apple, pear, vine, sugar beet, wheat, rapeseed
cereals (wheat), rapeseed, soya, sunflower HR, IT
tomato, corn, soybean, potato, sunflower, sorghum, sugar beet, apple, raisin, pea, rapeseed, seedling tomato, watermelon, hops, tobacco, cabbage, watermelon
potato, tomato, onion, apple, corn, soybean, rapeseed
potato, fruit, ornamental and forestry seedlings; tomato, bell pepper, eggplant and cabbage seedlings
wheat, barley, oats, rapeseed, sugar beet, sunflower, corn, soybeans, chickpeas, peas, lupin, rice
wheat, barley, soya, maize, sunflower, sugar beet, rapeseed, apricot, cherry, peach, apple, pear, non-productive perennial planting (mother plant, nursery); vine, potato, tomato, cucumber, onion, turnip; hops; pine plant; oak (plant)
wheat, barley, soybean, sunflower
carrot, potato, garden pea, field pea, coriander, sunflower, soybean
Culture(s)
propargite acaricide apple, vine, soy -
propiconazole fungicide
propineb fungicide
propizochlor (propisochlore) herbicide
winter wheat, spring barley, sunflower, soybean, sugar beet, rye, apples, rice, peach, tomato, rapeseed, peas
potato, tomato, onion, turnip, apple, vineyard, grape -
maize, sunflower, rapeseed, soybeans, sugar beet, peas, chickpeas
quinoxyfen fungicide apple, vine
S-metholachlor herbicide
Seed tomatoes, corn, soybeans, potatoes, sunflowers, sorghum, sugar beet, peas, rapeseed, cabbage
AT, BE, DE, EL, FR, HR, IT, NL, PT, SK
spirodiclofen insecticide & acaricide apple, pear HR
spiromesifen insecticide & acaricide corn, apple, sunflower BE, EL, IT, PT
spirotetramat insecticide
apple, pear, grapevine, soybean, cabbage, onion, tomato, cucumber, cherry
AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, EL, ES, FI, FR, HR, HU, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NO, PL, PT, SE, SI, SK
teflubenzuron insecticide & acaricide potatoes, raisins, cabbage, apples PT
thiacloprid insecticide (neonicotinoid)
thiamethoxam insecticide (neonicotinoid)
thiram fungicide
corn, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower, mustard, potato, tomato, cherry, apple, barley, sugar beet, strawberry
corn, sunflower, potato, rapeseed, sorghum, sugar beet, wheat, tomato, cabbage, sunflower, rice, barley, rye, soybeans, hops, grapevine, flax, peas, onions, pine, apple, pear, eggplant, bell pepper, strawberry, poppy
wheat, barley, sunflower, rapeseed, soybeans, rye, corn, flax, chickpeas PT
total amino acids
cereals, pulses, maize, sunflower, rapeseed, sugar beet, fruit crops, vegetable crops, raisins, potatoes, apple trees, tomatoes, fruit, berries, grapes, flower crops
triadimefon fungicide wheat, barley, sugar beet, vine, apple tree
triadimenol fungicide barley, vine, apple, wheat, sugar beet
triasulfuron herbicide
tribenuron-methyl
barley
barley, wheat, sunflower, rye, oats
flax, tomatoes, cabbage, coriander, tomato, tobacco, garlic, onion, eggplant, bell pepper, cucumber, lupin, alfalfa, anise, geranium, basil, caraway seeds, spearmint, annual flowers, astragalus, sand immortelle, valerian, common fennel, buttercup, mountain cassia, medicinal marigold, nightshade, milk thistle, three-part succession, lavender, sainfoin, watermelon.
zeta-cypermethrin insecticide
wheat, barley, potatoes, peas, soybeans, sugar beets, rapeseed, flax, cabbage, watermelons, melons, alfalfa, grass, vineyards, apples
*This information is updated once a year on the European Commission website, and may not reflect the actual situation in member states
Appendix 3: All 110 Ukrainian agro-holdings listed in 2021, classified by cultivated area.Source:Latifundistandofficialcompanywebsites.
MHP (Myronivsky Hliboprodukt)
UkrLandFarming
Agroprosperis (New century Holding) wheat, corn, soybeans, rapeseed, sunflower
soya, sugar beet, winter wheat (including winter wheat seed), sunflower, winter rape, maize
Continental Farmers Group maize, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower, barley, soybeans, potatoes
Epicentr Agro winter wheat, rapeseed, sunflower, corn, soybean
-laying hens, dairy and beef cattle -sunflower oil
Sumy Kiev
Vinnytsia
Ternopil
Khmelnytsky
Lviv
Ivano-Frankivsk
Dnipropetrovsk
Lviv
Ivano-Frankivsk
Ternopil Rivne
Zhytomyr Khmelnytskyi
Dnipropetrovsk
Sumy
Poltava
Zhaporizhia
Mykolaiv
Cherkassy
Kiev
Donetsk
Volyn Lviv
Ternopil Rivne Chernivtsi Khmelnytsky Zhytomyr Vinnytsia Kyiv Cherkasy Mykolaiv Chernihiv Sumy Poltava Kharkiv
Poltava Vinnytsya Zhytomyr Ternopil Khmelnytsky
-laying hens, broilers, dairy and beef cattle -sunflower oil
laying hens, dairy and beef cattle
Chernihiv Kharkiv -sugar refinery -dairy cattle -soy processing
Ternopil Lviv Khmelnytsky Chernivtsi
Ivano-Frankivsk
Ternopil Vinnytsia Khmelnytsky Zhytomyr Cherkasy
Kiev
-starch production -seed production (420 tons/day)
-fertilizer production -wheat flour production -dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs
Astarta
Agro winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley, maize, soybeans, winter rapeseed, sunflower, chickpeas, phacelia, peas
Privat-AgroHolding corn, soybean, sunflower, wheat, sorghum
Vitagro
winter wheat, winter barley, winter rye, spring barley, maize, soya, winter rapeseed, sunflower
AgroVista (former UkrAgroCom and Hermes-Trading)
wheat, barley, corn, sunflower, canola, peas, sugar beet
Luhansk -laying hens, dairy cattle -bakery
Sumy Kiev Vinnytsia Ternopil Khmelnytsky Lviv
Ivano-Frankivsk
Dnipropetrovsk
-laying hens, broilers, dairy and beef cattle -sunflower oil
Sumy -dairy cattle
Zhytomyr Kharkiv Chernihiv Odessa Cherkasy -
-dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs -sugar refinery -wheat flour production -bakery
-seed manufacturing. Line 1 = corn, wheat, barley, peas, soybeans, sunflower; production capacity 150200 tons/day; 130 employees. Line 2 = flax, coriander, spelt; capacity 75 tons/day; 60 employees. -Irrigation system
Poltova dairy cattle, beef cattle
Khmelnytsky Ternopil Rivne
Kirovohrad Dnipropetrovsk
-horticulture (fruit and vegetables) -dairy cattle -seed production (wheat, soya, rapeseed, mustard, peas, barley) -sunflower and rapeseed oil
-dairy and beef cattle -sugar refinery
Tas
Svitanok wheat, barley, corn, peas, soybeans, sugar beets, potatoes, tropical crops (lemon, feijoa)
Agrotrade wheat, corn, sunflower, winter wheat, spring barley, buckwheat
Dnipropetrovsk Kirovohrad -beef cattle, pigs -meat processing -bakery -pasta production
Kharkiv Poltava Sumy Chernihiv seed production (sunflower, corn, barley, buckwheat, soya, winter wheat) Zakhidnyy Bug cereals, industrial and forage crops
Lviv Ternopil -seed production -breeding
Chernihiv Kyiv Poltava Sumy Zakarpattia dairy cattle
Zhytomyr Kiev Cherkasy Poltova Kivorhad -beef cattle, dairy cattle, pigs -production of seeds, fertilizers and plant protection products
Vinnytsia Zhytomyr Khmelnytskyi dairy cattle, pigs
dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs Dnipro Agro Group
Agroprodservis wheat, barley, sunflower, soybean, spring barley, rapeseed, peas, sugar beet
Ternopil Ivano – Frankivsk Lviv Kherson -pigs, broilers -seed production -meat processing (preserves, sausages)
-meat processing
Agrospetsservis (I&U Group)
sunflower, corn, buckwheat, sugar beet
Kirovohrad rafineries (sugar)
Zhytomyr Kharkiv Khmelnytski Kiev Tcherkassy Kirovohrad dairy cattle
Southern Agricultural and Export Company (PAEK) sunflower, winter wheat, winter barley, winter rape, maize, peas, oats, millet
Svarog West Group
sunflower, sugar beet, corn, wheat, soybean. Also flax, naked pumpkin, beans, malting barley, medicinal chamomile.
Khmelnytskyi Zhytomyr Chernivts
-sugar refinery -bakery
-livestock: sheep, pigs, beef cattle -Production of briquettes (alternative fuel) from straw and other crops.
-production of sunflower pellets (an alternative to fuel) -freshwater fishing -farm machinery rental
-beef and dairy cattle -arboriculture: apples, pears, apricots, cherries -seed production
-forage production -soybean oil production -sugar refineries -biogas plants -livestock: turkey, cattle, pigs -meat processing Holding Agro Region
Khmelnytsky Zhytomyr Kiev Chernihiv
-animal feed production -poultry farming, broiler poultry -chicken meat processing
Zemlya i volya
-pig farming -flour production
Beta Agro Invest (B.I.G. Harvest Group)
Main crops: winter wheat, sunflower, corn. Also barley, rapeseed, alfalfa, mustard and chickpeas.
AgroGeneration winter wheat, rapeseed, malting barley, maize, soybean, sunflower, peas
Ekoprod buckwheat, thistle, millet, rye, fig, corn, oats, barley, wheat
TPK Agroalyans cereals, pulses, oilseeds
Kirovohrad Mykolaiv Chernihiv Odesa
-tomato seed production -processing (tomato paste and powder)
-livestock: pigs, genetic center -soybean processing: oil and meal (up to 250,000 tonnes per year)
Donetsk Chernihiv
-livestock: dairy cattle -services: road transport of agricultural and other products on Ukrainian territory
Kharkiv -
-livestock: dairy cattle, poultry, pigs, fish -production of dairy products
KharkivAgricom Group wheat, oats (+ glutenfree), sunflower, corn
Zhytomyr (7000) Chernihiv (9000) Luhansk (11500 ha, pas d’avoine. 450 non irriguées)
-cereal flakes factory, Chernihiv (capacity of 12,000 tonnes of flakes/year) --> export
Zelenaya dolina (Terra Food) wheat, barley, sunflower, sugar beet, rye, corn, soybeans, canola
Agro-industrial Corporation "USPIKH" wheat, barley, corn, soybean, sunflower, rapeseed
Buchachagrohlibpro m wheat, barley, sunflower, corn
Selhozprodukt corn, wheat, sugar beet
Agropromyshlennay a Kompaniya Roskoshnaya
beef cattle, dairy cattle
-seed production -breeding: dairy cattle, beef cattle (including bulls) -production of wheat flour and other cereals -honey
-flour production -fodder production -sugar refinery -pasta production -biogas plants (2)
livestock: pigs, sheep, goats, dairy cattle
Kusto Agro wheat, corn, sunflower, soybean, rapeseed
Zhytomyr Vinnytsia Khmelnytskyi
-forage production -livestock: pigs -slaughterhouse and meat processing -B2B and B2C sales
Lviv Ternopil Khmelnytskyi Kiev Chernihiv Dnipropetrovsk Sumy Poltava -dairy cattle -10 processing plants: 4 dairy (Lviv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk ); 6 cheese (Khmelnystkyi, Chernihiv, Poltava, Sumy (2))
-dairy cattle, 1 dairy farm Other: Roads, rails and construction; Maritime and offshore; Logistics solutions Volyn-ZernoProduct wheat, soybeans, rapeseed, sugar beet, barley, maize, peas, permanent grasses
processing of agricultural products (sunflower, animal feed, hen eggs), storage and transport services
Hmelnitsk Mlyn
Winter and spring wheat, winter rapeseed, barley, soybean, sunflower, maize, sugar beet, peas, sorghum, poppies
flour production (2 mills, Khmelnytskyï)
Cherkasy Poltava -seed production -agricultural product processing
KSG Agro
winter wheat, barley, rapeseed, spring sunflower, maize, sorghum, winter and spring peas
Prodexim cereals, sunflower
Dnipropetrovsk -pig farming -forage production -5 pellet boilers; some converted to biofuel (wood pellets) -plans to complete construction of a pellet plant (60,000 t/year)
-sunflower oil production (including organic) -arboriculture: apples, pears, grapes, peaches, cherries, raspberries, blackberries VV Agro corn, sunflower, cereal crops
Volyn Zhytomyr Vinnytsia Ternopil Ivano-Frankivsk Odesa beef cattle and pig farming
Agroteh garantiya
Avis UkrAgro corn, soybeans
Arnika organic soy, corn, sunflower, mustard, lentils, flax, millet, hemp
Agrofirma Pyatihatskaya wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, sunflower 17,000
Sumy -dairy cattle, laying hens -farm services (harvesting)
Cherkasy Poltava -production of organic sunflower oil -forage production (soy processing)
Kirovohrad
Chongar winter cereals, sunflower 17,000
Zgoda cereals, oilseeds, vegetables 17,000
Pytidni cereals, oilseeds, industrial crops 16,500
Agro Oven wheat (10,000 t), feed wheat (20,000 t), maize (50,000 t), sunflower (15,000 t), potato (7,000 t), millet
Dnipropetrovsk
-livestock: pigs (500 head), cattle (1,000 head), poultry (2,000 head) and sheep (500 head) -Mill, oil mill, bakery and pastry shop
sheep farming
-broiler and layer hens, pigs, beef cattle -artificial insemination stations, breeding plants -compound feed plant -meat processing plant -bioenergy plant -restaurants, stores
-animal feed production -livestock: pigs, horses, aquaculture Kishchentsy
wheat, barley, malting barley, sugar beet, corn, rapeseed, soybeans, vegetables, perennial grasses
livestock: dairy cattle (350 head), pigs (400 sows)
-harvesting services -processing and storage of agricultural products -reproductive seed processing -import-export operations -commercial, industrial, intermediation, marketing and trading activities
Vinnytsia Khmelnytskyi Ternopil storage
-grain storage -grain shipping (up to 100,000 tons per year for each of the 2 companies)
-production of dairy products: 5 production plants (15,252 tonnes of cheese; 3,295 tonnes of dairy butter; 51,982 tonnes of milk; 104,250 tonnes of fermented dairy products; 11,243 tonnes of baby food; 288,533 tonnes of milk supplies)
Rostok Holding
-animal feed production -livestock: pigs, horses, aquaculture Kishchentsy
wheat, barley, malting barley, sugar beet, corn, rapeseed, soybeans, vegetables, perennial grasses
livestock: dairy cattle (350 head), pigs (400 sows)
-harvesting services -processing and storage of agricultural products -reproductive seed processing -import-export operations -commercial, industrial, intermediation, marketing and trading activities
Vinnytsia Khmelnytskyi Ternopil storage
-grain storage -grain shipping (up to 100,000 tons per year for each of the 2 companies)
-production of dairy products: 5 production plants (15,252 tonnes of cheese; 3,295 tonnes of dairy butter; 51,982 tonnes of milk; 104,250 tonnes of fermented dairy products; 11,243 tonnes of baby food; 288,533 tonnes of milk supplies)
Rostok Holding
Stepnaya maize, winter wheat, winter and spring barley, sunflower 10,000 230
Cygnet Agrocompany maize, sugar beet, winter wheat, soybean, sunflower
Olimp corn, wheat, soybeans, sunflower
Dnipropetrovsk
-seed trade (corn hybrids, winter wheat, sunflower hybrid barley, etc.) -livestock: pigs (6,000 head by 2021)
Zhytomyr Vinnytsia
breeding meat processing and trade
cereals, industrial crops - - - -
Preobrazhenskoe wheat, barley, maize, millet, sunflower, rapeseed, oats, peas, soybeans
VPK Agro vegetables
irrigation systems
Oskar
Annex4:SunflowerseedproductionintheEU-27andUkraine.Source:basedon FAOStatandUSDAdata.
*2023 and 2024 refer to USDA data Sept 2023/Aug 2024 and Sept 2024/August 2025 (forecast).
Appendix5:HarvestedsunflowerareasintheEU-27andUkraine.Source:basedon FAOStatandUSDAdata.
*2023 and 2024 refer to USDA data Sept 2023/Aug 2024 and Sept 2024/August 2025 (forecast)
Annex6:Bulgaria-Sunflowerseedimportsandexports.
Source:BasedonEurostatdata
(a)importsofsunflowerseedsfromallovertheworld
Between 2019/21 and 2023, Bulgaria increased its imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds by a factor of
2 3 (+ 103,000 tonnes), with a peak in 2022 Bulgaria accounted for 35% of European imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds in 2023.
Over the same period, Romanian sunflower seed exports increased by a factor of 1.13 (+106,000 tonnes). It would therefore appear that sunflower seeds imported from Ukraine are being re-exported
Imports in 2023 Exports in 2023
(c)SunflowerseedexportstotheEU-27.
Annex7:Hungary-Cerealimportsandexports.Source: Eurostat
(a)importsofsunflowerseedsfromallovertheworld
Between 2019/21 and 2023, Hungary increased its imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds by a factor of 342 (+87,000 tonnes), with a peak in 2022. Hungary accounted for 17% of European imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds in 2023.
Over the same period, Hungarian sunflower seed exports fell by 47% (- 175,000 tonnes) It would therefore appear that the sunflower seeds imported from Ukraine were consumed (or processed) entirely within the country.
(c) Sunflower seed exports to the EU-27.
(b) sunflower seed exports
Appendix8:Romania-Sunflowerseedimportsandexports.
Source:basedonEurostatdata
(a)importsofsunflowerseedsfromallovertheworld
Between 2019/21 and 2023, Romania will increase its imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds 44fold (+80,000 tonnes), with a peak in 2022. Romania accounted for 16 % of European imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds in 2023.
Over the same period, Romanian sunflower seed exports fell by 8% (+141,000 tonnes). It would therefore appear that all the sunflower seeds imported from Ukraine were consumed (or processed) within the country.
313 000 tons
imports in 2023
1,5 million tons
26 %
exports in 2023 of
romania - Sunflower
(c)SunflowerseedexportstotheEU-27.
Annex9:Portugal-Importsandexportsofcereals.Source:Eurostat
(a)importsofsunflowerseedsfromallovertheworld
Between 2019/21 and 2023, Portugal increased its imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds by a factor of 1,300 (+50,000 tonnes) Portugal accounted for 10% of European imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds in 2023.
Over the same period, Romanian sunflower seed exports were divided by 9 (-6,000 tonnes). It would therefore appear that the sunflower seeds imported from Ukraine were consumed (or processed) entirely within the country.
197 000 tons
603 tons
25 %
imports in 2023 exports in 2023 of imports from ukraine
(b)sunflowerseedexportsworldwide
(c)SunflowerseedexportstotheEU-27.
SPAin
SPAin
Annex10:Spain-Sunflowerseedimportsandexports.Source:basedonEurostat data
(a)importsofsunflowerseedsfromallovertheworld
Between 2019/21 and 2023, Spain increased its imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds by a factor of 62 (+35,000 tonnes), and accounted for 7% of European imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds in 2023.
These import volumes correspond to net imports, since Spanish sunflower seed exports fell over the same period. These imports have not been at the expense of traditional partners.
(b)sunflowerseedexportsworldwide
(c)SunflowerseedexportstotheEU-27.
Appendix11:France-Sunflowerseedimportsandexports.Source:à
(a)importsofsunflowerseedsfromallovertheworld
Between 2019/21 and 2023, France increased its imports of Ukrainian cereals by a factor of 173 (+36,000 tonnes), and accounted for 7% of European imports of Ukrainian sunflower seeds in 2023.
It would appear that the volumes imported were entirely re-exported, as exports from France increased over the same period
(b)sunflowerseedexportsworldwide
(c)sunflowerseedexportstotheEU-27.
