Ukraine’s food safety authority forecasts 2026 launch of pea exports to China
The actual start of Ukrainian pea exports to China is expected in 2026, Vadym Chaikovskyi, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP), told Latifundist.com.
Despite the phytosanitary protocol signed between Ukraine and China in March 2025, shipments have not yet commenced. At the beginning of the season, traders anticipated an active entry into the Chinese market and prepared consignments in line with the importer’s requirements; however, the process has been delayed.
According to Chaikovskyi, opening the Chinese market involves a standard procedure: Ukraine submits responses to questionnaires and initiates the export process, after which the Chinese side conducts an audit — inspecting fields, storage facilities, processing capacities, ports, and the state control system. Based on the results, a mutually agreed protocol is finalized.
In the case of peas, the procedure was complicated by martial law, as Chinese inspectors were unable to visit Ukraine to conduct on-site inspections. Ultimately, the parties agreed on a video inspection format. The SSUFSCP, jointly with the Ukrainian Pulses and Soybean Association, prepared video materials of production facilities along with the required documentation package and submitted them to the Chinese side.
China is currently reviewing the materials and is expected to provide an official conclusion on whether Ukrainian procedures comply with the protocol requirements.
“According to insider information, a decision may be announced in the near future and is likely to be positive. We hope that in 2026 Ukrainian peas will finally be shipped to China. This is a strategically important and highly capacious market that would significantly increase export volumes and foreign currency revenues for both businesses and the state budget,” Chaikovskyi said.
At the same time, China has been actively increasing pea purchases from Russia. After suspending imports of Canadian peas in March 2025 amid tariff disputes, imports from Russia surged by nearly 80%. However, in early 2026, Canada and China preliminarily agreed on the possible removal of tariffs on a range of goods, including peas, starting March 1. If implemented, competition between Canadian and Russian suppliers could intensify again.
Sergey Pluzhnikov, founder of Russian Pulses Analytics, stated that Russia’s share of China’s yellow pea imports rose from 37% in 2023 to 48% in 2024 and to 66% in January–November 2025. He linked this trend to the introduction of tariffs on Canadian yellow peas, which took effect on March 20.