The share of raw materials in Ukraine's exports to the European Union is decreasing while the proportion of processed goods is increasing, reported Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine.
"Over 10 years of free trade with the EU has transformed our trade into an EU-centric model. 59.5% of our exports go to the EU. Despite all the turbulence in the agricultural sector and at the borders, our exports to the EU have risen by $1.34 billion, or 5.9%," - wrote him on Facebook.
According to the deputy minister, in 2024 Ukraine exported six categories of goods worth over $1 billion each, and 33 categories worth over $100 million each. Additionally, 423 categories of goods were exported in volumes ranging from $99 million to $1 million.
Kachka noted a reduction in raw material exports. For instance, corn exports remained significant at 14.06 million tons, but were 1.2 million tons less than in 2023. He attributed this decline to bans imposed by neighboring countries, reminding that the EU continues to be a key market for Ukrainian corn, accounting for 49.2% of the exports.
A similar trend, he stated, is observed with wheat. In 2024, Ukraine exported 7.3 million tons, which is 0.9 million tons less than the previous year. However, this still constitutes 34% of all wheat exports and is significantly higher than exports before the war (around 1 million tons).
"These goods are consumed by farmers in the EU, and the figures of our basic agricultural exports indicate that farmers on the streets protest against Ukrainian agricultural products, but still vote for them with their wallets," - emphasized the deputy minister.
At the same time, he mentioned that due to EU-level restrictions, Ukraine sold 51% less sugar to the Union than in 2023, amounting to $195 million less. However, overall sugar exports increased by 45%, reaching 749 thousand tons, of which only 303 thousand tons went to the EU.
Kachka noted that the most significant reduction was in sunflower seed exports, which fell by 76%. In 2024, Ukraine exported only 181 thousand tons of this crop to the EU. Meanwhile, sunflower oil exports grew by 13%. With a value of $2.87 billion, this product became the number one in Ukrainian exports to the EU, with the EU accounting for 59% of all Ukrainian sunflower oil exports.
"Thanks to coordination between the government and exporters, poultry meat exports fit within the limits set by the EU – 136.8 thousand tons. The EU accounts for 40.6% of our poultry meat exports, totaling $390 million," - highlighted the trade representative of Ukraine.
The product that "simply ignores all barriers and protests," Kachka referred to as Ukrainian honey, with supplies to the EU reaching 71.18 thousand tons in 2024. In monetary terms, this brought Ukrainian beekeepers 22% more, totaling $136 million.
The deputy minister reported a similar trend in metallurgy. "In monetary terms, we received 1.9% less iron ore - $1.57 billion, although we exported slightly more. Exports of ferroalloys decreased by 72%. At the same time, rolled products exports increased by 45.1%, yielding $690 million in revenue," - he stated.
The trade representative also added that exports of cable products to the EU in 2024 surpassed the one billion mark – reaching $1.2 billion. Notably, 94.5% of this export goes to the EU.
He reminded of the phenomenal growth in exports of ready-made men's clothing by 646%, of which 99.5% goes to the EU, bringing Ukraine $98.9 million. Meanwhile, 86% of ready-made women's clothing exports, totaling $61 million, are directed to the EU.
Ukraine exported glass containers worth $119 million (+7.7%) to the EU. There, 89.3% of bottles, flasks, jugs, pots, and cans under code 7010 are sent.
"These figures indicate that our economy and industry are increasingly integrating with the EU economy. Our producers possess the best skills for establishing connections with the EU," - emphasized the trade representative of Ukraine.
He expressed confidence that the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement is a cornerstone element of Ukrainian trade policy (even more so than the WTO). It needs to be further implemented and developed.
As Kachka stated, the country's priority in 2025 will be to update market access conditions in the EU under the Association Agreement and to utilize its legal framework for full legal integration into the EU internal market regarding roaming, technical regulation (ACAA), payments (SEPA), and other measures of the Priority Action Plan for the implementation of the DCFTA (Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area – DCFTA) with the EU.
"Everyone in the EU protesting against agricultural imports from Ukraine should remember: without our foundation, agricultural products from the EU will lose their competitiveness," - he emphasized and reminded that the Ukrainian market is important for EU farmers (99.2% of cheese imports to Ukraine come from the EU, generating $228 million in revenue - mainly for Polish producers), just as it is for agricultural input producers (plant protection products worth $440 million and complex fertilizers worth $418 million).
"Therefore, we must finally realize that we bring each other more benefits and should fully liberalize trade, rather than playing legal chess, trying to pinch each other and impose restrictions," - concluded the trade representative of Ukraine.