Ukraine to sign flour export deal with China in 2025
The deal marks a significant step in Ukraine‘s ongoing strategy to diversify its export markets, unlocking one of the world’s largest consumer markets for Ukrainian value-added grain products
UKRAINE – Ukraine is poised to sign a landmark agreement this year to begin exporting flour to China, marking a major stride in its agricultural trade ambitions.
The announcement was made by the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection during the Agro Ukraine Summit in Kyiv.
The deal marks a significant step in Ukraine’s ongoing strategy to diversify its export markets, unlocking one of the world’s largest consumer markets for Ukrainian value-added grain products, reinforcing Ukraine’s role as a key global food supplier.
In addition to flour, Ukraine is also advancing negotiations to open Chinese markets for wheat, sorghum, millet, and millet groats. Talks are also underway to secure access for mustard exports to Peru and corn exports to Chile, as Ukraine intensifies its diversification efforts amid ongoing disruptions caused by the war with Russia.
“Digitalization of phytosanitary services is a step toward simplifying the procedures for issuing phytosanitary documents, which significantly activates the diversification of Ukrainian exports,” he said.
A major milestone in this regard has been the rollout of the ePhyto system, a digital platform that streamlines the issuance and exchange of phytosanitary certificates globally.
As of mid-2025, Ukraine has issued 65,500 phytosanitary certificates through the ePhyto system, including 51,100 to countries participating in the ePhyto HUB, a centralized exchange system developed under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
The platform enhances trade transparency, reduces fraud risks, and accelerates customs clearance, benefiting both exporters and destination countries.
Deputy Head of the agency, Anatoliy Chaykovsky, urged Ukrainian exporters targeting China to coordinate promptly with regional bodies of the agency for mandatory crop surveys, as outlined in bilateral protocols. These surveys are critical to meet China’s strict plant health standards and ensure swift compliance.
According to the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA), Ukraine exported over 49 million tonnes of grain and oilseeds in the 2023/24 marketing year, with China among its top buyers of corn.
By expanding into processed product exports such as flour, rather than just raw grain, Ukraine aims to capture more value across the supply chain.
China, which imported more than 10 million tonnes of wheat and wheat products in 2023, is a promising target market. While domestic production in China remains strong, strategic imports are used to stabilize prices and augment supplies for urban and industrial uses.
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