The EU’s trade surplus with Ukraine reached €18.3 billion in 2024, driven by rising exports of mineral fuels and machinery. Meanwhile, agricultural imports—especially cereals and oilseeds critical for the feed industry—grew sharply, reinforcing Ukraine’s role as a key supplier.

In 2024, the EU exported €42.8 billion worth of goods to Ukraine, a 9.4% increase from 2023, while imports from Ukraine rose 7% to €24.5 billion. The trade dynamics reflect shifting supply chains, with Ukraine increasingly relying on the EU for mineral fuels (€6.8 billion in exports, up €4.1 billion since 2021) as it reduced imports from Russia and Belarus.

For the feed industry, the standout trend was the surge in agricultural imports from Ukraine. Cereals topped the list at €4.4 billion, marking a €2.7 billion increase since 2021. Animal or vegetable fats and oils followed at €3.1 billion (up €1 billion), while oilseeds and related products reached €2.5 billion (up €1.1 billion). These commodities are vital for feed production, signaling Ukraine’s growing importance in securing the EU’s raw material supply.

The data, released by Eurostat, also shows a broader recovery in bilateral trade since 2021, with total EU-Ukraine goods trade now nearly double pre-2022 levels. Electrical machinery (€4.3 billion) and general machinery (€4.2 billion) were other major EU exports, though these hold less direct relevance for feed producers.

Industry analysts suggest the figures underscore Ukraine’s resilience as an agricultural exporter despite wartime disruptions. The EU’s demand for Ukrainian cereals and oilseeds remains robust, driven by competitive pricing and logistical improvements like the EU’s solidarity lanes initiative.