Apple exports from Ukraine have fallen sharply: what caused the decline

Apple exports from Ukraine have fallen sharply: what caused the decline

Ukraine, which was actively increasing apple exports a few years ago, is now facing a sharp decline in this indicator. According to the latest data, the volume of Ukrainian apple exports has decreased several times over the past year, which is causing concern among farmers and exporters.

In the 2022/2023 season, Ukraine exported only 17.4 thousand tons of apples, while in the record season of 2018/2019 this figure was over 55 thousand tons. Thus, over the past five years, export volumes have fallen more than threefold. The decrease occurred both in physical volumes and in monetary terms.

One of the main reasons for the decline in exports was the war that began in 2022. Due to hostilities and temporary occupation of some territories, logistics chains were destroyed, part of the harvest was lost, and access to external markets was significantly reduced, in particular to the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, which previously actively bought Ukrainian apples.

In addition, competition on the global market has intensified. Poland, Turkey, Iran and other apple producers are increasing production and expanding into external markets. Ukrainian exporters are facing difficulties in ensuring stable product quality, certification and long-term contracts, which makes it difficult to enter new markets or return to already lost ones.

Despite the difficulties, some Ukrainian farmers are trying to adapt to the new realities. They are investing in storage, sorting and packaging of apples, and are also looking for new sales markets in Asia and Europe. However, these efforts are not yet able to compensate for the losses suffered by the sector as a result of the war and economic instability.

Experts believe that to restore its position in the global market, Ukraine needs state support, modernization of production, and active promotion of Ukrainian products abroad. Without this, the industry may lose even more potential in the coming years.