Ukraine has lost key wheat markets in Asia and Africa due to a shift towards the EU

Ukraine has significantly reduced its presence in the wheat markets of Asia and Africa, focusing its export efforts primarily on Europe. According to Ukrainian traders, this strategy has led to the loss of a substantial share of traditional sales markets.

This is reported by AgroReview

“We have lost 70% of the Egyptian market. All Ukrainian exporters have shifted their focus to Europe. We not only missed the opportunity to sell profitably to Egypt, but we also lost the trust of the Egyptian buyer,” market participants reported.

Losses in African and Asian markets

Currently, 75% of imported wheat in Tunisia comes from Russian products, with some from France, while Ukrainian wheat is virtually absent. A similar situation is observed in other countries – Ukraine has lost ground in Sudan and Ethiopia. In countries like Kenya and Nigeria, there is demand for wheat varieties with high protein content (12.5%), which Ukrainian products often cannot provide.

Challenges in Asian markets and export prospects

Ukrainian traders also report difficulties in Asian markets, particularly in Bangladesh and Indonesia, where Russia is actively pushing out competitors by significantly lowering prices. Moving forward, due to restrictions from the European Union, Ukrainian exporters will need to reassess pricing strategies and adapt logistics routes to maintain competitiveness.