Ukrainian corn production
Ukraine is the world’s third largest exporter of corn. Fertile black soil, a mild climate and the experience of Ukrainian farmers allow the country to consistently produce high corn yields. In 2021, Ukraine harvested nearly 42 million metric tons of corn from an area of over 4 million hectares. Over 60% of this harvest is exported, making corn one of Ukraine’s most valuable agricultural export commodities.
The majority of corn production is concentrated in central and western Ukraine. Poltava, Cherkasy, Khmelnytsky, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi oblasts account for over 60% of the national corn output. These regions have very favorable natural conditions for cultivating this crop. Most Ukrainian corn goes for animal feed, biofuel production and human consumption. Due to increasing demand abroad, exports keep rising year after year.
Export channels to the EU market
The European Union is the largest trade partner for Ukraine’s corn exports. In 2021, nearly 70% of exported Ukrainian corn went to EU countries. The largest importers are Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy and Germany. Corn shipments to Europe have been growing rapidly over the past decade due to increasing demand and free trade agreements.
Wholesale purchases make up a significant corn export from Ukraine to Europe. Large batches are purchased by European grain traders, feed manufacturers, biofuel producers and starch companies. Wholesale buyers appreciate consistent quality, attractive pricing, flexibility of delivery terms and Ukraine’s favorable geographic location.
Compared to other major corn exporters like Brazil and Argentina, Ukraine offers some key advantages:
- Higher quality standards due to proper agrotechnics, crop rotation and limited GMO cultivation;
- Lower cost thanks to efficient production process and good logistics infrastructure;
- Geographic proximity ensures fast and cost-efficient transportation.
As the demand for organic products grows across Europe, more Ukrainian farmers now cultivate corn without synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. This gives Ukraine additional opportunities on the European corn market.
Future export prospects
Ukraine has excellent long term prospects for increasing its corn exports to European countries even further. With one of the largestshares of arable land in Europe, Ukraine still has substantial room to expandits corn harvested area through crop rotation. Many regions can boost their productivity by adopting modern agricultural technologies and equipment. Investing in storage and transport infrastructure will also help drive more exports abroad.
European demand shows no signs of slowing down considering the continuous growth of the animal feed and biofuel sectors. As more farmland transitions to certified organic production systems, Ukrainian corn will satisfy the strict requirements of eco-conscious European consumers. With the right strategy, Ukraine can solidify its status as one of Europe’s indispensable partners providing corn to feed people and animals across the continent.
