Ukraine may increase corn exports to 26 million tons despite fertilizer shortage
14.05.2026 - 14:00
Ukraine expects to increase corn exports in the 2026/27 season due to better weather conditions and a reorientation of sales to new markets.
Ukrainian corn exports in the new marketing season, which starts in July, may increase to 26 million tons. Bloomberg writes this with reference to the President of the Ukrainian Grain Association Mykola Gorbachev.
According to him, favorable weather this winter created the prerequisites for a better harvest. Snow cover helped accumulate moisture in the soil, which could increase the gross corn harvest to 32.6 million tons – about 4% more than in the current season.
Positive expectations remain despite additional risks for the agricultural sector. Among them are attacks on port infrastructure and an increase in the price of fertilizers and energy resources due to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
As Gorbachev noted during the GrainCom conference, this spring the shortage of fertilizers for Ukrainian farmers is about 20%. At the same time, weather conditions partially offset this factor.
“Favourable weather, even with insufficient fertilizer application, can provide a very good harvest,” he said.
To compensate for quota restrictions on the EU market, Ukrainian exporters plan to work more actively with buyers in Indonesia, Egypt and Turkey.
In addition, the association expects an increase in wheat exports – up to 16 million tons compared to 14 million tons in the current season.
For comparison, the US Department of Agriculture estimates Ukraine’s export potential more modestly: at 23 million tons of corn and 13 million tons of wheat in the 2026/27 marketing year.
As USM reported, Romanian barley is currently more competitive than grain from Ukraine on foreign markets on the eve of the start of the new export season.
