Ukraine may face significant financial losses due to the reintroduction of European Union quotas on wheat exports. According to Artem Soloviyov, director of the grain trading company Grain Power, in the second half of 2025 alone, the country could miss out on between €120 and €280 million in foreign currency earnings as a result of these restrictions. The final amount of losses will depend on fluctuations in global grain prices.
This is reported by Business • Media
Impact of Quotas on Wheat Exports and the Agricultural Sector
The return to pre-war trading conditions with the EU, which were in place before the onset of the full-scale war, has already affected purchasing prices at elevators, logistics chains, and the liquidity of grain traders. According to the expert, while these losses are not critical for all agricultural products, they could reach about 15% of last year’s income for the wheat subsector.
“This is already affecting purchasing prices at elevators, logistics chains, and the liquidity of traders.”
Details of Tariff Quotas and Opportunities for Farmers
After the completion of the full liberalization period for trade with the European Union regarding agricultural products, pre-war tariff quotas stipulated in the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU have come back into effect. For wheat exports for the remainder of 2025, the European Commission has set an annual quota with a zero tariff of 7/12 of the standard volume, which is approximately 583 thousand tons.
Currently, Ukraine and the EU have reached a preliminary agreement on updating the parameters of trade relations, but the existing quotas will remain in effect until the end of 2025. Experts believe that farmers can partially offset losses by diversifying export directions and seeking new markets for wheat.