Ukraine continues to make active use of the European Union's tariff quotas for agri-food exports. According to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), the highest utilization rates at the beginning of July were recorded for apple juice, undenatured ethyl alcohol, natural honey, sugar, poultry products, eggs, and wheat, reflecting sustained demand for Ukrainian products across the EU market.
Within the licensing system, 75% of the annual quota for fresh or frozen poultry meat has already been allocated, with around 70,000 tonnes distributed among importers since the beginning of the year. The same utilization rate applies to quotas for eggs and egg products. Demand exceeded the available volumes, meaning that many importers received only part of the licences they requested. By contrast, the quota for frozen poultry meat has been used by only 14%, leaving significant room for additional exports.
Among quotas administered under the First Come – First Served principle, apple juice is closest to exhaustion, with 91.3% already utilized. High utilization has also been recorded for ethyl alcohol (63.7%), natural honey (60.9%), sugar (59.4%), sweet corn (58.6%), preserved tomatoes (48.1%), and starches and inulin (44.3%). During June, the fastest growth in quota usage was observed for ethyl alcohol, sugar, and apple juice.
The strong utilization of tariff quotas highlights the competitiveness of Ukrainian agricultural products and the steady demand from European buyers. At the same time, the rapid exhaustion of several quotas underscores the importance of continued dialogue between Ukraine and the European Union on expanding market access for Ukrainian exporters.