“This is a logical reflection of the situation where domestic supply is not sufficient to fully meet demand. The demand is being covered, but under strained supply conditions, which drives up prices,” said AUPB President Oksana Yurchenko in a comment to Latifundist.com.
She also highlighted the ongoing impact of African Swine Fever (ASF) on the industry. Unofficial estimates suggest that up to 30% of Ukraine’s pig population has been lost due to ASF outbreaks over the past year.
Despite this internal shortage, there has been no surge in pork imports. The reason, Yurchenko noted, is that global pork prices remain high, and current Ukrainian prices do not offer a strong incentive for importing. As a result, Ukraine remains within the broader European pricing trend.
On the export front, Ukrainian pork is currently absent from the EU market. A scheduled 2022 inspection mission by DG SANTE, which could have opened the door to exports, was cancelled due to a new ASF outbreak. While negotiations are underway regarding potential exports of heat-treated pork products, the outlook remains limited.
latifundist.com