Chicken Meat Export From Ukraine Became a Record in 2020

In 2020, Ukraine has significantly strengthened its position in the export markets of meat and meat products. First of all, it was due to the huge demand for chicken meat, the export figure for the previous year surpassed an absolute record. This became known from the commentary of the academician of the NAAS Nikolai Pugachev, who is cited on the official website of the NSC “Institute of Agrarian Economics.”

Nikolay Pugachev said that in 2020, Ukraine sent 431 thousand tons of chicken for export. Ukrainian exporters were able to gain USD 555 million for their products. Pugachev noted that despite the growth in exports, the amount of revenue decreased by 8% compared to 2019. In particular, in 2019, poultry meat suppliers were able to raise USD 652 million.

Pugachev noted that the decrease in revenue was associated with the trend of cheaper chicken meat from Ukraine. The expert also noted that the countries of the Middle East became the main consumer of Ukrainian meat. The European Union and the CIS countries follow. The share of the European Union countries in purchases of Ukrainian chicken was 20%.

The leader in the purchase of chicken meat from Ukraine has also changed. If from 2017 to 2019 the Netherlands held the lead, in 2020, most poultry was delivered to Saudi Arabia. Cooperation with the Saudis began only in 2015, and the first consignment of exports amounted to only 28 tons that cost 34 thousand USD. In 2020, 83 thousand tons of chicken meat was supplied to Saudi Arabia in the amount of 136 million USD. As for the Netherlands, this country accounted for 13.9% of Ukrainian chicken exports. In third place, there is the UAE (8.3%), followed by Belarus (6.1%), Azerbaijan (5.2%), and Kazakhstan (4.1%). Together, these six countries accounted for 60% of total chicken exports.

Pugachev also noted that in 2020, Ukrainian chicken was twice banned from supplies, which limited the volume.