Ukraine’s Pea Export to China Opens New Opportunities, Production and Prices Expected to Rise, reports Baltimore Chronicle citing NV.
In March, China opened its market for Ukrainian peas, providing a strong incentive for domestic farmers to increase the sowing area for this crop. This step is also expected to contribute to a rise in purchase prices for Ukrainian peas, stated Antonina Sklyarenko, President of the Ukrainian Pulse and Soybean Association.
She emphasized that China is one of the world’s largest importers of legumes, which creates new opportunities for Ukrainian producers. During a meeting with the head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Serhii Tkachuk, Chinese Ambassador Ma Shenkun noted that Ukrainian agricultural products have priority when selecting suppliers, even when alternatives exist.
Another factor enhancing Ukraine’s competitive position is China’s introduction of a 100% duty on Canadian peas from March 7. This change gives Ukrainian exporters additional chances to secure their place in the premium market.
Sklyarenko also mentioned that China’s certification of Ukrainian peas will help stabilize domestic prices for the new harvest. Since March 2025, purchase prices for peas in Ukraine have been steadily increasing. Regarding export prices on a CIF basis to Pakistan and India, they currently stand at about $350 per ton. With the start of deliveries to China, prices are expected to grow further.
For the last three years, Turkey has remained the leading importer of Ukrainian peas. Last year, 77.1 thousand tons were exported there, amounting to $18.679 million. India ranked second in 2024, importing 76.9 thousand tons worth $21.563 million.
The growth of exports to India was enabled by New Delhi’s decision to extend duty-free imports of yellow peas until the end of May 2025. Although the Indian government previously announced it would not extend the preferential regime, adverse weather conditions may negatively impact the local harvest and affect future trade policy.
Other major importers of Ukrainian peas include Italy, the UAE, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and others. Together, these countries account for more than 62% of total exports, ensuring stable demand.
In addition, Ukrainian companies have started processing peas into split peas—a product that is more competitively priced and enjoys steady demand, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Production volumes of this crop also show an upward trend. In the 2023/2024 marketing year, Ukraine produced 409 thousand tons of peas. For the 2024/2025 season, an increase to nearly 480 thousand tons is forecast.
Recall that in March, Ukraine and China signed an agreement on the conditions for exporting Ukrainian wild-caught aquatic products and peas to the PRC. Overall, in 2024, Ukrainian producers gained access to foreign markets for 16 groups of goods in 9 countries worldwide.
Earlier we wrote that U.S. senator Graham Urges China to support Ukraine or face sanctions.