Ukraine wants EU to increase bioethanol export quota as current limit nears exhaustion

Ukraine is considering requesting a higher bioethanol export quota to the European Union, as its current limit is nearly depleted, according to Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi. The country's existing quota for bioethanol exports is 125,000 metric tons per year, with 101,000 tons already utilized, leaving only 24,000 tons remaining.

Vysotskyi stated that once this quota is fully utilized, Ukraine will seek a review of the limit. The minister cited Ukraine's increased production capacity and the need for these products in EU markets as reasons for seeking the quota increase. He pointed out that there are no viable alternative foreign markets for Ukrainian bioethanol, and if export restrictions occur, domestic consumption and pharmaceutical/ cosmetic industries would become the primary consumers.

Vysotskyi estimated that the Ukrainian domestic market could consume between 220,000 and 250,000 tons of bioethanol annually, equivalent to blending around 10% of gasoline with bioethanol, assuming 2.2 million to 2.5 million tons of annual gasoline consumption. Expanding bioethanol production could also help manage surplus corn, as the Ukrainian market could consume about 250,000 tons of bioethanol per year.

However, solely relying on domestic processing would not be sufficient to tackle the corn surplus, as Ukraine produces approximately 25 million tons of corn annually. The Verkhovna Rada postponed in June 2025 a requirement to sell gasoline containing 5% bioethanol until 2026. Currently, every second industrial park in Ukraine is reportedly planning to produce bioethanol in 2025.