(VAN) In 2024, Ukrainian poultry exports jumped by 20.4%, reaching an all-time high of $962.7 million, according to the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada’s agricultural committee.
In volume, sales to foreign countries climbed by 5.7% to 448,800 tonnes, the Ukrainian lawmakers reported.
It is expected that the exports of poultry meat and eggs from Ukraine will continue to grow in the foreseeable future. Photo: Canva.
As in previous years, the Netherlands remained the largest importer of Ukrainian poultry, with a share of 23.2%. Saudi Arabia was ranked second (16.1%) and Slovakia third (8.5%).
In addition, Ukraine exported 77,800 tonnes of eggs in 2024, which is 59.4% more compared with the previous year. In value, growth surged 22.5%, reaching US$74.5 million. The leading sales markets for Ukrainian eggs were Israel (14.1%), Poland (11.7%), and Italy (11.1%).
A positive signal
“The growth of exports demonstrates the high competitiveness of Ukrainian products on the international market and the efficiency of domestic producers,” the lawmakers added. “The expansion of the geography of supplies and the increase in demand for Ukrainian poultry and eggs once again confirms its quality and compliance with world standards.”
The positive momentum of last year’s dynamics serves as a promising indicator for the future of the industry. The committee forecasts that exports will continue to grow in the foreseeable future, bolstering the industry’s investment attractiveness.
Turbulent 2025
Looking ahead, several factors are expected to shape the landscape of Ukrainian poultry farming in 2025 and beyond, according to Serhiy Karpenko, chairman of the Ukrainian Union of Poultry Farmers.
The industry expects the export quotas to the European Union, currently approved until June 2025, to remain in force until the end of the year, Karpenko said. Much will depend on whether Ukrainian authorities will succeed in negotiating a favorable trade regime for Ukrainian poultry exports to the EU, he indicated.
Another important factor in play is the ability of the Ukrainian poultry industry “to restore poultry and egg production to pre-war levels, which will significantly affect the price situation on the market throughout the year and the profitability of the business,” Karpenko stated.
Exports are gaining increasing importance for the Ukrainian poultry industry, particularly in the context of the declining domestic market demand.
According to Karpenko, the shrinking number and worsening of the overall financial health of Ukrainian consumers took a toll on poultry sales in Ukraine in 2024. This year, the population’s limited purchasing power will continue to hinder consumption, even though chicken remains the most affordable type of protein on the market.
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