Main Reasons Behind the Decline in Sugar Beet Acreage Revealed

14 June 2026, 12:00 241

A combination of factors has contributed to the record-low area planted with sugar beets this year. One of the key reasons is the low price of sugar.

This was stated in an interview with AgroPortal.ua by Yana Kavushevska, Chairwoman of the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine «Ukrsugar».

According to her, a downward price trend has persisted for the past two years both in Ukraine and on the global market. However, domestic sugar prices have long remained below a sustainable level.

«For comparison, the wholesale price of sugar was around UAH 29/kg in May 2023 and UAH 26/kg in May 2025. This May, it barely reached UAH 22/kg, which is essentially the level of 2022. At the same time, production and processing costs have risen significantly over the past four years, including expenses for fuel, fertilizers, crop protection products, energy, and labor», Yana Kavushevska explained.

She added that other crops competing with sugar beets within crop rotations currently offer better profitability, prompting farmers to shift their focus toward alternative crops.

Yana Kavushevska, Chairwoman of the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine «Ukrsugar»

The market situation changed after 2024, as the global market entered a period of surplus supply. A strong sugar beet harvest and overproduction in the European Union led to the reintroduction of quotas on imports of Ukrainian sugar. As a result, Ukrainian sugar exports to the EU declined significantly.At the same time, exports to the global market, which are typically carried out through seaports, continue to face logistical constraints and risks. Against the backdrop of low prices, these challenges raise questions about the economic viability of such exports. As a result, we are seeing a substantial reduction in the area planted with sugar beets.

According to Yana Kavushevska, most experienced agricultural producers have not abandoned the crop altogether but have instead reduced the acreage allocated to sugar beet cultivation.

Viktoriia Polevyk, AgroPortal.ua

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