Corn to Become Ukraine’s Main Grain Crop in 2025 — Ministry of Economy Forecast

In 2025, Ukraine expects an increase in grain harvests, with corn becoming the key crop in terms of production volumes. This was announced by Taras Vysotsky, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, during a speech at the Economic Strategy Center. According to updated forecasts, the gross grain harvest in the new season is expected to reach about 59 million tons, exceeding last year’s figure of 56 million tons.

This is reported by AgroReview

Yield of Main Grains and Harvesting Rates

As noted by the official, the harvesting of early grains — wheat and barley — has already been completed. Yield indicators remain close to last year’s levels: 22–22.5 million tons of wheat and 5.3 million tons of barley have been harvested, which fully meets the country’s domestic needs. The main focus is now on harvesting corn, with a forecasted yield of about 30 million tons.

“The corn harvest is actively ongoing; we have not yet crossed the equator of the harvest. This year, spring was late, so the harvesting has been shifted. September and October were rainy, so the main volumes are still ahead,” Vysotsky noted.

According to the Deputy Minister, corn will become the leader among grains in 2025, showing an increase of 3 million tons compared to last season. At the same time, due to unstable weather conditions, the harvesting campaign may extend into December. Vysotsky added that despite the weather risks, the season can be considered quite successful.

Dynamics of Oilseed Crop Yields

This year’s oilseed crop yields show a different trend. The harvesting of rapeseed has already been completed with a result of 3.3 million tons compared to 3.7 million tons in 2024. The sunflower harvest remains stable at 11.5–12 million tons. However, soybean volumes have significantly decreased — 5–5.5 million tons compared to 7.2 million tons last year.

According to Vysotsky, the reduction in soybean acreage and the simultaneous increase in corn plantings have led to a change in the structure of the harvest. These trends are defining the current agricultural balance of the country.

Previously, the Deputy Minister estimated the potential grain harvest at 56 million tons, but this year’s results have exceeded expectations. According to the National Bank of Ukraine, the current successful harvesting campaign has positively impacted inflation indicators. The regulator forecasts further growth in agricultural production in 2026–2027, primarily due to corn.

At the same time, exporters report that delays in harvesting have affected Ukraine’s position in the EU market. In particular, imports of Ukrainian corn to European Union countries have decreased threefold, indicating a loss of market share due to shifted delivery timelines.