Despite the devastating 36% drop in its iconic wheat harvest, Ukraine's agricultural heart continues to beat, feeding the world while fighting for its future.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Ukraine produced 21.2 million metric tons of wheat, down 36% from 2021 due to the ongoing conflict
- Ukraine's corn production reached 28.6 million metric tons in 2022, a 28% decline from the previous year amid war disruptions
- Barley output in Ukraine was 7.5 million metric tons in 2022, reduced by 45% due to reduced planting areas
- Sunflower seed production in Ukraine was 13.5 million tons in 2022, down 15% yoy
- Ukraine produced 16.8 million tons of sunflower seeds in 2021, world's top producer
- Sunflower oil production reached 7.2 million tons in 2021 from Ukraine
- Ukraine produced 1.8 million tons of sugar beets in 2022 for sugar industry
- Sugar production in Ukraine was 1.6 million tons in 2021/22 season
- Potato production reached 19 million tons in Ukraine 2021
- Ukraine milk production was 8.2 million tons in 2021
- Beef production in Ukraine reached 0.22 million tons in 2021
- Pork output 0.45 million tons in 2021 Ukraine
- Ukraine's confectionery market value $2.5 billion in 2021
- Bread production 2.8 million tons annually in Ukraine
- Pasta production 0.9 million tons in 2021
Despite wartime disruptions, Ukraine remains a major global exporter of grains and sunflower oil.
Cereal Crops
- In 2022, Ukraine produced 21.2 million metric tons of wheat, down 36% from 2021 due to the ongoing conflict
- Ukraine's corn production reached 28.6 million metric tons in 2022, a 28% decline from the previous year amid war disruptions
- Barley output in Ukraine was 7.5 million metric tons in 2022, reduced by 45% due to reduced planting areas
- In 2021, Ukraine harvested 33.2 million tons of corn, making it the world's 4th largest producer
- Wheat exportable surplus from Ukraine in MY 2022/23 was estimated at 13 million tons
- Ukraine's rye production stood at 1.2 million tons in 2021, primarily for domestic feed use
- Oats production in Ukraine reached 0.8 million tons in 2022, down 20% from pre-war levels
- Millet output was 0.3 million tons in Ukraine for 2021 harvest
- In 2020, Ukraine's total cereal production was 68.4 million tons
- Spring wheat area sown in Ukraine for 2023 was 1.1 million hectares
- Ukraine accounted for 10% of global wheat exports in 2021
- Corn planting area in Ukraine for 2022 was 5.2 million hectares
- Ukraine's 2023 wheat production forecast is 22.7 million tons
- Barley yields in Ukraine averaged 2.8 tons per hectare in 2021
- Total grain storage capacity in Ukraine is 140 million tons as of 2022
- Ukraine exported 45 million tons of grains in 2021/22 MY
- Wheat yields in Ukraine were 4.1 tons/ha in 2021
- Corn exports from Ukraine reached 32 million tons in 2021/22
- Ukraine's share in global corn trade was 15% in 2021
- Sorghum production in Ukraine was 0.15 million tons in 2020
- In 2023, Ukraine's early wheat harvest estimates show 5 million tons already threshed
- Buckwheat production in Ukraine fell to 0.12 million tons in 2022
- Ukraine's cereal export ports handled 50 million tons in 2021
- Winter wheat sowing area for 2023/24 in Ukraine is 5.8 million ha
- Rice production is negligible in Ukraine at under 1,000 tons annually
- Ukraine's grain processing capacity is 25 million tons per year
- In 2021, Ukraine ranked 5th globally in corn production with 42 million tons
- Triticale production in Ukraine was 0.4 million tons in 2021
- Ukraine's cereal self-sufficiency ratio is over 200% for feed grains
- In 2022, Ukraine's wheat planting area dropped to 5 million ha from 6.5 million ha
Cereal Crops Interpretation
Even as war brutally shrank its fields and silenced its ports in 2022, Ukraine’s immense agricultural potential persisted, with its soil still yielding enough surplus to be a vital, yet besieged, breadbasket for the world.
Food Processing and Exports
- Ukraine's confectionery market value $2.5 billion in 2021
- Bread production 2.8 million tons annually in Ukraine
- Pasta production 0.9 million tons in 2021
- Beer production 1.2 billion liters in 2021 Ukraine
- Mineral water bottling 2.5 billion liters/year
- Vegetable oil refining capacity 10 million tons
- Flour milling capacity 8 million tons/year Ukraine
- Baby food production $200 million market 2021
- Canned food output 1.5 million tons annually
- Chocolate production 0.4 million tons 2021
- Soft drinks production 3 billion liters/year
- Margarine production 0.15 million tons
- Bakery products market $3 billion
- Juice production 0.8 million tons equivalent
- Food industry employs 1.5 million people in Ukraine
- Processed food exports $5 billion in 2021
- Number of food processing enterprises 15,000+
- Wine production 0.05 million tons grape equivalent
- Spirits production 50 million liters pure alcohol
- Frozen foods production 0.3 million tons
- Mayonnaise and sauces 0.1 million tons
- Snack foods market $500 million
- Organic food processing growing 20% yoy
Food Processing and Exports Interpretation
Even as a nation famed for its "breadbasket" moniker, Ukraine’s food industry proves it has sophisticated tastes, with its $3 billion bakery market ensuring its people are well-bread, its formidable confectionery sector keeping them sweet, and its 1.2 billion liters of beer annually on hand to wash it all down while toasting $5 billion in processed exports.
Livestock Products
- Ukraine milk production was 8.2 million tons in 2021
- Beef production in Ukraine reached 0.22 million tons in 2021
- Pork output 0.45 million tons in 2021 Ukraine
- Poultry meat production 1.3 million tons in 2021
- Egg production 12.5 billion units in 2021 Ukraine
- Dairy cattle herd 1.6 million heads in 2022
- Pig herd 5.2 million heads end 2021
- Poultry flock 220 million birds in 2021
- Butter production 0.12 million tons 2021
- Cheese output 0.25 million tons in Ukraine 2021
- Yogurt production 0.3 million tons annually
- Milk powder production 0.08 million tons 2021
- Beef exports negligible at 10,000 tons in 2021
- Poultry exports 0.35 million tons in 2021/22
- Milk processing capacity 12 million tons/year
- Cow milk yields average 5,500 liters/head/year
- Pork processing plants over 500 in Ukraine
- Sheep and goat milk 0.02 million tons
- Honey production from livestock apiaries 70,000 tons
- Live cattle exports 5,000 heads annually
- Poultry slaughter capacity 2 million tons/year
- Dairy exports 0.15 million tons in 2021
- Piglet production 10 million heads/year
- Broiler production 1.1 million tons meat equivalent
- Ice cream production 0.25 million tons 2021
- Wool production 0.002 million tons
Livestock Products Interpretation
Ukraine’s food industry displays a sobering paradox: a nation capable of producing oceans of milk and armies of poultry remains frustratingly moored in low-value bulk commodities, with its immense potential still largely bottled up at home.
Oilseeds
- Sunflower seed production in Ukraine was 13.5 million tons in 2022, down 15% yoy
- Ukraine produced 16.8 million tons of sunflower seeds in 2021, world's top producer
- Sunflower oil production reached 7.2 million tons in 2021 from Ukraine
- Rapeseed output in Ukraine was 2.1 million tons in 2022
- Soybean production in Ukraine hit 4.5 million tons in 2021
- Ukraine exported 6.8 million tons of sunflower oil in 2021/22 MY
- Sunflower seed crushing capacity in Ukraine is 20 million tons annually
- Rapeseed oil production in Ukraine was 1.1 million tons in 2021
- Soybean meal output from Ukraine reached 1.6 million tons in 2022
- Ukraine's sunflower seed export was 3.2 million tons in 2021
- Safflower production is minimal in Ukraine at 5,000 tons in 2020
- Sunflower yields averaged 2.3 tons/ha in Ukraine 2021
- Ukraine holds 50% of global sunflower oil exports
- Rapeseed sowing area in Ukraine for 2023 is 1 million ha
- Soybean exports from Ukraine were 2.8 million tons in 2021/22
- Sunflower oil meal production was 2.5 million tons in 2021 Ukraine
- Ukraine's oilseed processing plants number over 200
- In 2022, Ukraine's sunflower area harvested was 5.8 million ha
- Mustard seed production in Ukraine is 0.02 million tons annually
- Ukraine exported 95% of its sunflower oil production in 2021
- Rapeseed yields in Ukraine 2.5 tons/ha in 2022
- Soybean processing capacity 5 million tons/year in Ukraine
- Linseed production 0.1 million tons in 2021 Ukraine
- Ukraine's share in global sunflower seed production is 25%
- Sunflower oil bottling lines in Ukraine total 150+
- In 2023, Ukraine sunflower production forecast 14.2 million tons
Oilseeds Interpretation
Despite Ukraine's indomitable role as the world's sunflower oil pump, supplying half of global exports, the 2022 drop in its seed harvest reveals the profound vulnerability of this golden bounty to the shadow of war.
Sugar and Other Crops
- Ukraine produced 1.8 million tons of sugar beets in 2022 for sugar industry
- Sugar production in Ukraine was 1.6 million tons in 2021/22 season
- Potato production reached 19 million tons in Ukraine 2021
- Sunflower honey production in Ukraine is 80,000 tons annually
- Sugar beet processing capacity 15 million tons in Ukraine
- Vegetable production total 9.2 million tons in 2021 Ukraine
- Melon production 1.1 million tons in Ukraine 2020
- Fodder beet output 0.5 million tons in 2021
- Ukraine has 45 sugar factories operational
- Potato storage capacity 12 million tons in Ukraine
- Sugar exports from Ukraine 0.4 million tons in 2021/22
- Carrot production 0.7 million tons in 2021 Ukraine
- Onion output 1.0 million tons annually average
- Cabbage production 1.2 million tons in 2020
- Beetroot production 0.4 million tons 2021
- Ukraine's sugar self-sufficiency 140% in 2021
- Tomato production greenhouse 0.3 million tons yearly
- Cucumber output 0.8 million tons 2021
- Pumpkin production 0.5 million tons annually
- Ukraine imports 0.2 million tons sugar yearly pre-war
- Sweet pepper production 0.15 million tons 2020
- Eggplant output 0.05 million tons in Ukraine
- Garlic production 0.2 million tons 2021
- Ukraine's sugar beet yields 50 tons/ha average
- Mushroom production 0.03 million tons commercially
Sugar and Other Crops Interpretation
Despite the bitter taste of war, Ukraine’s agricultural backbone remains stubbornly sweet, proving its fields are not just fertile ground but a formidable larder that insists on feeding itself and the world.
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