In the 2025/26 MY domestic soybean processing is expected to reach 2.9 million tonnes, which is 51.4% higher than the five-year average

Domestic soybean utilization in Ukraine has been growing year by year, primarily driven by increased processing—namely, the production of soybean oil and soybean meal. According to preliminary estimates, in the 2025/26 MY this figure will reach 2.9 million tonnes, exceeding the five-year average by 51.4%, although slightly (by 2.6%) below the previous season’s level.

Key insights on this crop:
Stabilization of planted areas: the previous season recorded the largest soybean acreage in the history of independent Ukraine. In the 2025/26 MY, Ukrainian farmers planted around 2.1 million hectares of soybeans, which is 30.0% less than the previous marketing year, but 15.3% higher than the five-year average. With an average yield of 2.4 t/ha, soybean production is estimated at 5.0 million tonnes, which is 30.8% lower than in the previous MY. The main reason for this decline is the reduction in planted areas.Maintaining soybean oil production despite a smaller harvest: the upward trend in soybean oil production has persisted for several years. Although a significant decline in soybean output is expected in the 2025/26 MY, soybean oil production will decrease only slightly—to 527 thousand tonnes (2.6% lower than in 2024/25 MY). This stability is driven by the introduction of export duties for non-producers, which has led to reduced exports of raw soybeans.
Export orientation: as Ukrainian consumers traditionally prefer sunflower oil, domestic consumption of soybean oil remains minimal at 25–30 thousand tonnes. Therefore, around 95% of produced soybean oil is exported. In the 2024/25 MY, Ukraine exported 520 thousand tonnes of this product (51.4% more than in the previous marketing year). In the 2025/26 MY, exports are projected to decline by 3.7% to 501 thousand tonnes. The EU was the main buyer of Ukrainian soybean oil in 2024/25 MY, accounting for 87% of exports.

Conclusion: the transformation of approaches to soybean cultivation and processing in the 2025/26 MY demonstrates Ukraine’s gradual shift from exporting raw materials to generating value-added products. By directing a significant share of soybean oil exports to the EU, Ukraine is strengthening its position as a reliable supplier of processed goods, contributing to greater economic resilience.

Learn more in the Agricultural Outlook 2025: https://cutt.ly/XtQeCL7O