EU increases quota for Ukrainian honey to 35 thousand tons: the industry faces a shortage

Starting from October 2025, Ukrainian exporters will have the opportunity to supply 35 thousand tons of honey to the European Union annually without tariffs — this is six times more than the previous quota of only 6 thousand tons. Thus, the quota for Ukrainian honey has increased by a record 483%. However, despite such a significant increase, the industry is facing substantial production difficulties.

This is reported by AgroReview

Impact of climate, war, and new regulations on honey production

In recent years, Ukraine has experienced a sharp decline in honey production. One of the main reasons is climate change and military actions that have negatively affected beekeeping. In 2026, the country faced its lowest honey harvest in recent times. Experts do not rule out the possibility of a shortage in the domestic market, as global demand may “absorb” almost all Ukrainian honey.

The situation has been influenced by three factors. First, spring frosts and explosions in frontline areas led to mass bee deaths and loss of honey plants in the gardens of the Cherkasy region and several other areas. Second, the war has caused a reduction in apiaries: some beekeepers were forced to evacuate, while others lost hives due to shelling. Third, the harsh winter of 2025-2026 weakened bee colonies, further complicating production.

It is also worth considering the new regulatory restriction: starting from November 30, 2024, honey exports to the EU can only be carried out through enterprises that are officially included in the register of authorized exporters. For small beekeepers, this means that they cannot directly take advantage of the new quota — only through large exporting companies.

Benefits and risks for market participants

The increase in the quota is undoubtedly beneficial for large exporters who have the necessary infrastructure and are included in European lists. Companies such as “Honey of Ukraine” and Beehive gain direct access to the EU market and can export large volumes of honey without paying customs duties.

For medium-sized beekeepers (with 50-100 hives), the situation is less favorable. They do not have direct access to the quota and only receive the purchase price determined by the same large exporters. Although the purchase price has risen amid the shortage and increased demand from the EU, this does not compensate for the loss of production volumes due to difficult conditions.

Regarding the domestic market, there is a risk of product shortages and rising retail prices. If most of the honey is directed towards export due to more favorable prices, Ukrainian consumers may face a shortage of honey and a significant increase in its cost.

“The honey quota has been increased from 6,000 tons to 35,000 tons. This year, exports are expected to reach 40,000 tons, which amounts to 100 million plus foreign currency inflow. This is a very significant segment of our agricultural sector,” noted the Deputy Minister of Agricultural Policy in a comment to Kurkul.

For comparison, in 2020, Ukraine exported 81 thousand tons of honey, which allowed it to take second place in the world after China. Today’s duty-free quota of 35 thousand tons is only a fraction of the former export volumes.

Analysts emphasize the gap between the growth of export opportunities and the actual capacity of producers:

“Bees are not aware of the new agreements,”

experts ironically note, commenting on the situation in the honey market.