Some Ukrainian products gain advantage under renewed trade deal with the EU: honey quotas up sixfold, sugar — to 100,000 tons

Under the updated Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Ukraine and the EU, exporters of honey, eggs, wheat, and sugar benefited the most, said Oleksandra Avramenko, Head of the European Integration Committee of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), in an interview with Latifundist.com.

According to her, compromises were reached on a number of agricultural products considered “sensitive” for the EU, resulting in significantly expanded quotas.

The honey quota increased from 6,000 to 35,000 tons — six times higher than before the full-scale russia-Ukraine war. Although during the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM) period, Ukraine exported even more, the current volume remains substantial.

“And did that ever stop our honey? Thank God, no. Because the EU import duty of 17% is not prohibitive, and stable demand there guarantees prices that fully cover these costs,” Avramenko noted.

The quota for eggs also rose significantly — from 6,000 to 18,000 tons. Demand for Ukrainian eggs in the EU remains high even beyond the quota, particularly due to shortages caused by avian flu.

“The demand is so strong that even the import duty doesn’t stop supplies — the market price makes it worthwhile,” the expert explained.

The wheat quota was increased from 1 million to 1.3 million tons, while flour was separated into a new category. Ukraine will be able to export up to 30,000 tons of wheat flour — matching record volumes during the ATM period.

The sugar quota rose from 20,000 to 100,000 tons, with derivative products now excluded from this category.

At the same time, there were no major changes for corn — the quota increased slightly, but the zero-duty regime for out-of-quota volumes remains in place.