Despite the war and difficulties with transportation, Ukrainian snails are in demand in the European market. The snail business in Ukraine is not new; exports are increasing yearly, and farms are starting to process theirproducts.
In 2023 alone, Ukraine exported 946 tons of shellfish, 47.6% more than the year before ($5.2M, +73.3%). The main buyers of Ukrainian shellfish last year were Lithuania (61.8%), Spain (26.6%), Poland (4.9%), Greece, and Georgia. In the first quarter of 2024, Ukraine exported 217 tons of shellfish (+110% compared to the same period in 2022).
However, the war significantly narrowed opportunities for domestic manufacturers. Some of them had to reduce their production to maintain profitability. VerbaraVLyk2020 farm in the Rivne region chose this path, and despite the difficult times, they still managed to export their products to Europe. The farm also established cooperation with foreign partners to sell processed snail products that are produced in Ukraine. The company plans to export snail dishes after the war ends.