Spain has become the leading importer of Ukrainian agricultural products in the EU; how can Ukraine retain its consumers?

Spain has become the main importer of Ukrainian agricultural products in Europe, and the primary trade strategy for this country is not to overheat its market with excessive exports to prevent a trade confrontation with Spanish farmers, said Pavlo Koval, director of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation.

“On the corn market, Spain increased imports from Ukraine for the third year in a row: third place among importers of our corn with a market share of 11.1% in 2022 (2.756 million tons), second place with a market share of 13.8% in 2023 (3.972 million tons), and in the nine months of 2024, the first place with a market share of 18.1% (4.135 million tons).”

For the nine months of 2024, Spain retained first place in wheat imports with a share of 26.8% (4.768 million tons).

In general, the expert feels that Ukraine should focus on the EU’s main markets to develop and preserve its trade, including Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy.