One of the leading honey exporters in Ukraine, Beehive, which sold 9,000 tons of its products last year, plans to reduce its export volumes to 5,000–6,000 tons in 2025. The reason for this reduction is new customs restrictions imposed by the European Union, which have made Ukrainian honey less competitive for European buyers compared to cheaper products from China, India, and Turkey.
This is reported by Business • Media
Impact of Tariffs and Quotas on Honey Exports
According to industry representatives, Ukrainian exporters are currently operating on the brink of profitability. While last year from January to June they exported about 8,000 tons of honey monthly, this figure has now dropped to 3,500 tons per month. The total cost of Ukrainian honey, including delivery to European customers, is approximately $1.9 per kilogram, while the average market price in Europe does not exceed $2-2.1 per kilogram. Additionally, exports exceeding the quotas set by the EU are subject to a tariff of 17.3%.
“All market players have felt the decline,” said Semen Haharіn, CEO of Beehive.
Possible Ways to Overcome the Crisis for Ukrainian Exporters
At Beehive, it is believed that to overcome the crisis, Ukrainian honey exporters need to unite around major players in the industry. Important directions also include diversification: developing their own packaging of products and actively selling honey in supermarkets within the country. Furthermore, experts emphasize the need to accelerate Euro-integration to achieve a permanent duty-free export regime to EU countries. Despite the challenging market situation, Semen Haharіn does not rule out the possibility of expanding the company’s production and purchasing a new plant.