Ukrainian Honey Exports May Decrease by 10-20% in 2026

Ukrainian honey exporters are facing significant challenges due to the escalation of the situation in the Middle East and rising fuel prices, which are substantially affecting production costs and export volumes. According to Semen Haharin, the CEO of Beehive, one of the largest market players, the increase in diesel prices has led to a serious rise in logistics costs, with monthly losses already reaching tens of thousands of euros.

This is reported by AgroReview

Logistics Challenges and Loss of Middle Eastern Markets

Since the start of the war in Iran, the cost of transporting a container to Qatar has nearly tripled – from $7,000–8,000 to $20,000 per container, while delivery times have extended from 45 to 90 days. These factors have forced Beehive to temporarily halt exports to Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, which were previously key markets for the company. The CEO emphasized that delivery through the Strait of Hormuz has become particularly challenging, and finding alternative markets, especially in Europe or North America, cannot fully compensate for the losses from the closure of the Middle East.

“All honey procurement in Ukraine, so to speak, occurs in various regions that need to be accessed. To procure one truck of honey weighing 20 tons, one has to travel 500–600 kilometers, collecting products from different villages from beekeepers and farmers. After that, the honey needs to be delivered to production, and then logistics must be organized to deliver the products to partners in the European Union. These are just fuel costs due to rising prices. Before the start of the war in the Middle East, diesel could be purchased on the wholesale market for about 60 UAH per liter, while now it costs around 90 UAH per liter. This means the price has increased by about one and a half times, leading to higher costs for both domestic logistics and exports,” explained Haharin.

Honey Shortage and Changes in the EU Market

There is a temporary honey shortage in the domestic market of Ukraine, which has led to a reduction in supplies to the EU and an increase in prices. In 2025, honey exports from Ukraine amounted to 50,000 tons, but in 2026, a decrease of 10-20% is expected – to 40,000-45,000 tons. At the same time, with the start of the new season, approximately from August-September, the situation may begin to stabilize.

Haharin notes that the European Union market remains strategically important for Ukraine, accounting for 90-95% of all exports. However, due to the honey shortage and delays in supply, EU and US importers are increasingly favoring honey from other countries – China, India, Argentina. However, according to the expert, this does not mean a complete loss of positions, as Ukraine remains one of the key players in the global market and has every chance to regain and strengthen its positions after production volumes are restored.

At the same time, competition in the international market is intensifying, and pricing largely depends on yield. In the case of a good harvest, prices remain stable or even decrease, while sales volumes increase. Conversely, if yields are low, prices quickly rise, and sales decrease.

In 2025-2026, the income and margins of beekeepers in Ukraine have increased, contributing to the development of the industry. At the same time, many European importers and honey producers have suffered financial losses and even ceased operations due to declining profitability.

The procurement price of honey for Ukrainian beekeepers has risen from 65–70 UAH/kg at the beginning of the season to 130 UAH/kg now, while the export price for EU countries has increased from 1.90 euros/kg to nearly 3.20 euros/kg.