Ukraine's barley exports to grow by 22% in 2025/26 season – UCAB

Exports of barley from Ukraine in the 2025/2026 season (July–June) are forecast at 2.8 million tonnes, which is 22% higher than in the previous season, the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) reported on its Facebook page.

Analysts from the association noted that barley production has remained relatively stable during the years of the war, although it has declined significantly compared with the pre-war period. In the 2025/2026 season, Ukraine harvested 5.3 million tonnes of the crop, which is 0.4% more than in the previous marketing year but 19.7% lower than the average level of the past five years.

Among the key trends of the season, experts highlighted the largest reduction in barley acreage among all grain crops due to the temporary occupation of territories and low export potential. The sowing area amounted to 1.4 million hectares, which is 0.9% less than in the previous season and 26.4% lower than the five-year average. At the same time, barley became the only grain crop to demonstrate an increase in yield, reaching 3.9 tonnes per hectare, which is 8.4% higher than the average of the past five years.

Experts said that increased production and the presence of large carryover stocks made it possible to intensify shipments to foreign markets after a decline in the 2024/2025 season. At the same time, Ukraine continues to experience a long-term decline in domestic barley consumption, which in the current season is estimated at 2.8 million tonnes. Of this volume, 1.9 million tonnes are used for feed, while 0.2 million tonnes are used for food purposes.

"Despite the largest reduction in acreage among all grains, barley has managed to maintain production volumes thanks to higher yields. The decline in domestic consumption and the presence of carryover stocks allow Ukraine to increase exports in the 2025/2026 season, meeting demand from countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East," UCAB concluded.