Ukrainian experts shared the opinion that sugar beet harvest in Ukraine is absoletely uncontrolled. The situation is the same as with buckwheat: sometimes no one sows, then so much is sown that no one sows again for another five years. A few years ago, farmers refused to sow sugar beet despite the most loyal conditions from producers. They had much better potential with grains. Now the picture is completely different. In 2022, everyone saw the prospects. In 2023, the areas were prepared. And now everyone is sowing sugar beet.

In 2023/24, Ukraine produced 1.8 million tons of sugar. The country needs up to 1 million tons for its own consumption. Thus, the maximum export volume is set by the Memorandum at the level of 650,000 tons.

Quotas are exhausted

The European market is interesting for Ukrainian exporters both from the point of view of price and logistics cost. But after the quotas are exhausted, deliveries will continue to countries that are not part of the European Union - in particular Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to European countries, the Mediterranean and West African countries remain the main sales destinations of Ukrainian sugar. It is also planned to restore supplies to the countries of the Middle East and Asia, where sugar was actively sold by 2022. However, exporting to Asian and African countries is complicated by unpredictable logistics, risks and high volatility of delivery rates.

In 2024, Ukrainian farmers increased the area of ​​sugar beet sowing by 21%, as the profitability of grain cultivation fell sharply. Therefore, factories are beginning to doubt whether they will be able to process all the beets grown this year.