As of 27 October 2026, Ukrainian agricultural producers had harvested 3.92 million tonnes of sugar beet from 79.5 thousand hectares, 42.2% less than the total harvested by 31 October last year. Average root crop yields also declined, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.
According to the ministry’s operational statistics, sugar beet has been harvested on 47% of the projected acreage.
Average yields stand at 493.6 centners per hectare, compared with 522.6 centners per hectare last year, a decline of 5.6%.
By comparison, as of 31 October 2025, Ukrainian farms had harvested 6.79 million tonnes of sugar beet from 130 thousand hectares.
The area already harvested this year is 38.8% smaller than last year’s figure.
The substantial shortfall in total output is therefore primarily due to the smaller area harvested, although lower yields have also affected the result.
As of 27 October, farmers still had more than half the projected sugar beet acreage left to harvest.
These interim statistics do not yet allow an assessment of the final 2026 harvest or its potential impact on sugar production volumes.
Sugar beet is the main raw material for Ukraine’s sugar industry. Its production volumes and the sugar content of the roots determine processing plant utilisation, sugar production costs and opportunities to supply export markets.
Unlike cereals and oilseeds, which can be stored for relatively long periods, sugar beet requires timely delivery and processing after harvesting.
The industry therefore depends not only on the total harvest but also on the pace of deliveries to sugar factories, the sugar content of the roots and the length of the production season.
Overall, Ukraine’s harvesting campaign is producing mixed results. As of 27 October, the grain and pulse harvest had reached 41.7 million tonnes, while oilseed production totalled 16.91 million tonnes.
Sunflower and rapeseed harvests exceed last year’s figures, while sugar beet and soybeans currently show declines compared with the cited figures from last year.
