Ukrainian buckwheat market is entering another upcycle

The buckwheat market in Ukraine remains cyclical. Following the expansion of planted area and a record harvest in 2023, low prices led to a sharp decline in both production and sowing. In 2026, the area under buckwheat is expected to fall to a historic low of around 57 thousand hectares, which is likely to provide support to domestic prices.

Despite rising prices, the profitability of buckwheat cultivation continues to be constrained by high production costs and competition from lower-priced imports from Kazakhstan. Additional challenges for the industry include the EU’s stringent glyphosate residue requirements, which only a portion of Ukrainian production currently meets.

The market’s further development will largely depend on expanding export opportunities, strengthening partnership programs between processors and agricultural producers, and increasing the production of buckwheat that complies with European quality standards.