Main points
- In 2025, Ukraine recorded a negative apple trade balance for the first time in 8 years, when imports exceeded exports.
- Exports amounted to 14,500 tons for $8.4 million, while imports reached 22,600 tons for $27.8 million, with imported apples costing three times more.
Apple trading / Photo by Pexels
In 2025, Ukraine recorded a negative balance of foreign trade in apples for the first time since 2017 — imports exceeded exports in both volume and value. Experts warn that increased supplies from Europe could put even more pressure on domestic prices.
Apple imports to Ukraine exceeded exports
In the 2025 calendar year, Ukraine became a net importer of apples – for the first time in the last eight years. This was announced by the head of USPA Fruit company Volodymyr Gurzhiy in a comment to the magazine “Sadivnytstvo po-Ukrainsky”, AgroTimes reports.
At the end of the year, Ukrainian apple exports amounted to 14,500 tons worth 8.4 million USD. At the same time, imports reached 22,600 tons worth 27.8 million USD, meaning the country purchased almost 8,000 tons more products than it sold abroad. At the same time, imported apples cost more than three times more than exported ones.
Pay attention! According to the expert, such an imbalance is a signal of structural problems in the market, since such a situation has arisen for the first time in recent years.
In the near future, the trend may intensify due to a possible increase in imports, primarily from Poland. If apple stocks in storage remain significant, this will either lead to a negative trade balance again or cause domestic prices to decline under pressure from excess supply.
Important! The expert also emphasized that even in years with reduced harvests, Poland retains a significant advantage in terms of production volumes, which creates a constant risk of increased competition for Ukrainian producers.
Agricultural trade between Ukraine and the EU decreased by 9% in 2025
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In 2025, the volume of agricultural trade between Ukraine and the EU decreased by 9%, reaching 15.7 billion US dollars.
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Imports of agricultural products from the EU increased by 15%, in particular alcoholic beverages, food products, cocoa and dairy products.