The peculiarity of the Ukrainian walnut industry lies in its unique production model - more than 95% of the crop is grown in households, mainly in yards. This distinguishes Ukraine from the USA, where large industrial gardens dominate.Export is the main driver of the industry's development. In 2023, Ukraine exported walnuts worth $77 million, of which 72% was shelled kernels. The main sales markets were: EU (58% of total revenue); Turkey; France; Romania.
It is worth noting that shelled nuts are almost four times more expensive than unshelled ones, which demonstrates the direct benefit of processing.It is noted that the state and international donors provided significant support to the industry. During 2018–2023 alone, almost 6 thousand hectares of new orchards were established thanks to state subsidies. In addition, the "eRobota" grant program covers up to 70% of the costs of establishing orchards, investing billions of hryvnias in the development of nut crops. This allowed them to be brought to the top priority areas of horticulture.
Ukrainian walnut has a significant environmental advantage. Its production is accompanied by a much smaller carbon footprint - only 0.76 kg CO₂ per kilogram of product, while, for example, for almonds, this figure reaches 3.56 kg CO₂/kg. This characteristic allows positioning Ukrainian walnut as a climate-friendly superfood that meets modern trends in global markets.
Source: https://delo.ua/news/ukrayina-sered-lideriv-u-virobnictvi-voloskogo-gorixa-yaki-eksportni-perspektivi-ta-slyax-do-rinku-jes-453254/
