Preliminary customs statistics indicate that imports of chilled and frozen pork (UKTZED code 0203) in September exceeded 6,000 tons. According to the analytical department of the AUPP, this is 31% more than was imported the previous month and represents the highest figure since January 2022.
“Unlike last year, external supplies in 2025 have noticeably increased in response to weaker domestic pork supply and higher prices. In the second half of the year, the average monthly inflow of pork from abroad reached the 2022 levels. However, importers have not surpassed the record figure of 6.6 thousand tons registered in January 2022,” the AUPB noted.
According to industry analysts, the increased import activity was stimulated both by high quotations for Ukrainian pork and by the exhaustion of duty-free import quotas from the EU.
“This year, the seasonal decrease in domestic pork supply coincided with the consequences of the reduction in the national pig herd. As a result, prices for Ukrainian pork are significantly higher and have remained at a consistently high level for a long time. At the same time, the average customs value of imported pork in September decreased to $2.56/kg (−2.2% compared with August). Since the overwhelming majority of this product comes from EU countries, the exhaustion of duty-free import quotas encouraged some operators to build up stocks before the inevitable ‘price increase’ caused by import tariffs,” the AUPB explained.
The association reports that during the first three quarters of 2025, Ukraine imported 20.8 thousand tons of chilled and frozen pork (UKTZED 0203) worth $53.2 million. Of this amount, only 142 tons were imported from Canada, while the rest came from EU member states. Consequently, further pork imports from the EU will be subject to import duties — 12% for chilled and 10% for frozen meat.
At the same time, several importers believe that tariffs will not stop pork inflows as long as they remain economically justified.
“European pork quotations have weakened since early July and fell by 6% during September, influenced by seasonal trends, increased domestic supply, and difficulties in external trade — in particular, China’s introduction of 62% duties on pork imports from EU countries. Therefore, according to some operators, the downward price pressure from these factors may ‘offset’ the mentioned cost increase. Meanwhile, other players believe that, given the noticeable reduction in Ukraine’s domestic pork supply compared with last year, the price pressure from imports and their impact on the market will not be critical.
If import rates remain at the level of the third quarter of this year, total annual pork imports will not exceed 35 thousand tons. In that case, they would account for no more than 5–6% of the estimated domestic pork supply, being 25% lower than in 2022 and 15% below the 2021 level. Thus, the vast majority of pork on the domestic market continues to be provided by Ukrainian producers,” the AUPB clarified.
“Higher domestic pork prices somewhat slowed Ukrainian pork export activity in August and September. However, total exports for the first nine months of the year exceeded 2 thousand tons, amounting to nearly $6.2 million in value. The key export destinations remain Hong Kong, the UAE, Bahrain, and Malaysia, while businesses and government agencies are actively cooperating to open new markets — including the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea,” the AUPB reported.
