The export of medicinal herbs is growing in Ukraine

Agrarians in the western regions of Ukraine will more actively use sown areas for growing not traditional crops but medicinal herbs in 2023. This market is quite complex, but the expected time to make a profit here is 3-5 years. According to the director of Dobrotrav, Evheniy Shumeiko, ten companies are working in this direction in Ukraine, allocating more than 2,000 hectares for sown areas.

The demand for medicinal herbs is growing both in Ukraine and abroad. However, along with demand, the requirements for the quality of raw materials also increase. Of particular interest in the European market are herbs that are grown organically. And for example, such plants cannot be treated with chemical means from pests since the smell of the spray may remain, and such raw materials will no longer be of interest to anyone.

Ukrainian medicinal herbs are of great interest in the world. The USA, India, China, and Japan are among the largest buyers of plants. There is also a great demand in the EU countries, especially in Germany, Poland, and Bulgaria. Before the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the domestic market in Ukraine was also developed; however, due to the war, many consumers have become refugees or are under occupation. Therefore, the domestic market is going through a big crisis.

The most popular plants for export are elderberry, valerian, nettle, plantain, and sage. Sage is especially in high demand in the US, where the plant is used as a spice. Melissa is also in great demand. As for prices, the leader is arnica. For 1 kg of raw materials, you can get $250-300. However, the complexity of its cultivation is in special conditions. It grows only in the Carpathians. Still, the popularity of this herb is growing. Scientists have found that it has anti-cancer abilities, which increased the price of arnica by at least three times.