Ukraine sends 90% of its sugar exports to Middle East, North Africa in 2024/25
The markets of the Middle East and North Africa have become key destinations for Ukrainian sugar exports, serving as a vital alternative to the European market, which is currently limited by quotas.
This was announced by Yana Kavushevska, Head of the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine Ukrtsukor, during a meeting at the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.
According to Ukrtsukor, nearly 90% of the 500,000 tonnes of sugar exported during the 2024/25 marketing year has been shipped specifically to these regions. Leading importers of Ukrainian sugar include Türkiye, Libya, Lebanon, Somalia, Jordan, and Cameroon. Ukrainian sugar producers are eager to further expand their export footprint in the region and are counting on the ministry's support to achieve this goal.
"We have real opportunities right now – and it's crucial to seize them," said Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval. "Ukraine currently holds only a 0.2% share of global sugar trade. But global demand for high-quality food products is growing, and Ukraine has long proven its capacity to be a reliable supplier. Our goal is to scale up this experience, open new markets, establish trade hubs, and make sugar exports systematic and sustainable."