According to Bondarska, despite ongoing external shipments, pork exports from Ukraine remain крайне limited.
“Exports are happening, but it’s more of a trickle than a flow,” she noted.
In 2025, Ukraine exported around 2.2 thousand tons of pork, which is 30% less than the previous year. In 2026, export volumes remain minimal — less than 100 tons since the beginning of the year.
Currently, the main export destination for Ukrainian pork is the United Arab Emirates, where Ukrainian products are already present in retail chains. Limited trade also continues with Hong Kong and South Korea, although official negotiations on bilateral veterinary certificates and market access are still ongoing.
Among the most promising potential markets are countries in Asia and Africa, including Malaysia, Bahrain, Vietnam, Singapore, and India. However, negotiations to open these markets remain complex and time-consuming, significantly slowing export development.
At the same time, there are signs of partial recovery in traditional markets, particularly Georgia, which is seen as a positive signal for the industry.
An important announcement made during the presentation was that a verification mission from the European Union is expected in April. This mission will assess Ukraine’s state control system, including product safety, quality, traceability, and compliance with EU requirements. The goal is to open access to the EU market for heat-treated pork products.
Although this does not yet concern raw pork, the step is considered strategically important for the sector.
“Any opening of pork markets is already a major step forward for us. By gaining access to the European market, Ukrainian pork will demonstrate to the world that we exist, that we are capable, and that we meet European standards of quality and safety. This also means we can become attractive to other countries,” Bondarska emphasized.
The Association notes that even partial access to the EU market will send a strong signal to international partners and may trigger a “domino effect” in expanding export geography.
At the same time, the Association is actively involved in the preparation process, cooperating with technical experts and coordinating efforts with the competent authority and enterprises that could become the first exporters.