In 2023, Ukraine increased the export of hybrid corn seeds by 1.5 times

According to the National Research Center "Institute of Agrarian Economics" (IAE), in 2023 Ukraine increased the export of grain and oilseeds by 1.5 times compared to 2022, from $77.2 to $119.5 million, primarily due to hybrid seeds of domestic and foreign breeding. The structure of seed export is traditionally dominated by corn with a share of 97.4%.

For the second consecutive year of the war, the volume of seed exports exceeded its imports. Thus, in 2023, the export of seeds of domestic and foreign selection reached a record 42,500 tons, and the import - only 5,900 tons, which was the lowest figure in the last 15 years.

In particular, the export of hybrid corn seeds in terms of value increased by more than 1.5 times. If in 2022, 32,200 tons of such seeds were exported for the amount of $77.6 million, then in 2023 - 42,500 tons for the amount of $116.4 million.

The main buyer of domestically produced corn seeds was France, which in 2023 purchased 11,000 tons of products worth $32 million.

Also, the TOP-5 buyers of Ukrainian corn seeds included:

• Hungary – 9.1 thousand tons ($26.9 million),
• Austria – 7.3 thousand tons ($19.9 million),
• Romania – 6.7 thousand tons ($21.9 million),
• Moldova – 1.1 thousand tons ($1.7 million).

Compared to pre-war 2021, seed supplies to the EU increased 30 times or by more than $110 million.

In addition to corn, in 2023 Ukraine also exported 136 tons of millet seeds, 210 tons of rye seeds, 331 tons of sunflower seeds, and 893 tons of soybean seeds, from the sale of which it received $3.1 million in foreign exchange revenue, which corresponds to the indicator of 2022.