Ukraine won’t be able to offset rye shortage through autumn sowing — Rybchynskyi: Mass imports expected

Ukraine is expected to significantly increase imports of rye and rye flour in the 2025/2026 season — up to 15–16 thousand tons, which is five times higher than last year’s 3 thousand tons, said Rodion Rybchynskyi, head of the Union Millers of Ukraine, during the Agro2Food Profit Forum in Kyiv, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

“There will be mass imports. How much will we import over the winter of 2025–2026? I think the total volume of imported grain and flour will reach 15–16 thousand tons. Last marketing year, it was around 3 thousand tons,” he said.

Rybchynskyi explained that the rye shortage is caused by farmers’ reluctance to sow the crop.

“I don’t see agricultural producers actively sowing winter rye [for the 2026 harvest – ed. note]. There’s an increase of barely 5% compared to last year, but that won’t solve the shortage. Ukraine won’t be able to offset the deficit through autumn sowing,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, rye prices have risen sharply. According to Rybchynskyi, in 2024, a ton of rye cost UAH 6,000–7,000, while by May 2025, prices climbed to UAH 12,000–14,000.

Ukrainian rye flour sold for about UAH 18,000 per ton, while flour made from imported grain cost around UAH 20,000 per ton. In May last year, the price was only UAH 10,000.