NALU and the USPP are proposing changes to the rules governing agricultural exports: grain fumigation and logistics

UNLA is launching a working group with ULIE to address changes in the regulation of agricultural exports: grain fumigation and logistics are among the priorities

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Oleksiy Shevchuk, Chairman of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association (NALU), as a partner and member of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) in the field of drafting and promoting regulatory and legal acts, spoke at a meeting of the Anti-Crisis Headquarters with an initiative to create an inter-institutional working group.

The initiative involves bringing together representatives of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE), the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, regional chambers of commerce and industry, and international missions in Ukraine to develop amendments to legislation governing export and import operations involving agricultural products.

Grain Fumigation as a Critical Issue

The initiative pays special attention to the issue of grain fumigation, which remains unregulated amid the war. According to the head of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, this is a systemic issue that requires changes at the national legislative level, specifically a revision of Incoterms or other regulatory acts.

Fumigation methods currently in use:

  • are not stationary,
  • pose environmental risks,
  • result in the spoilage of a significant portion of the products.

The initiative to establish a working group was supported by the ULIE Presidium. The board is expected to make a decision on its formation in the near future.

Taras Vysotsky, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, also took part in the meeting.

Economic Context: Stagnation and Risks

The discussion took place against the backdrop of a deteriorating macroeconomic situation. According to estimates by members of the Crisis Management Team:

  • Real GDP in the first half of 2026 effectively showed zero growth,
  • the trade deficit exceeded $34 billion,
  • prices for industrial goods rose by 39%,
  • Export revenue is at risk due to the port blockades.

After growing by 3.2% in 2024 and 1.8% in 2025, the economy risks falling into stagnation.

Logistics and Port Blockades

One of the most pressing issues discussed at the meeting was the crisis in export logistics. Due to shelling, the seaports of Greater Odessa have effectively been blocked, which could result in a shortfall of approximately $2.5 billion in foreign exchange earnings in the second half of the year.

Alternative routes:

  • railroad,
  • Danube ports,
  • motor vehicles,

are capable of covering only about 50% of maritime logistics capacity.

This already leads to:

  • stockpiling of products,
  • a decline in production,
  • the risk of a shortage of storage facilities for 8–11 million metric tons of grain as early as this fall.

Financial Constraints for Businesses

The meeting participants also highlighted the issue of the cost of capital:

  • The NBU’s discount rate is 15.5%,
  • Inflation — 7.7%.

The ULIE emphasizes that this cost of money is hindering economic and entrepreneurial development. The business community is calling for systemic changes in monetary policy and access to credit.

The Role of UNLA in Decision-Making

The UNLA initiative to establish a working group is part of a broader strategy to institutionalize lobbying as a tool for effective interaction between business and the government.

Establishing a common position among business associations, experts, and government agencies will make it possible to:

  • respond promptly to calls,
  • remove regulatory barriers,
  • to enhance the competitiveness of Ukrainian exports.

The Crisis Management Task Force notes that Ukraine needs not only a response to current challenges but also a long-term economic policy.

Key priorities include:

  • diversification of logistics,
  • the development of processing,
  • access to financing,
  • preservation of human capital,
  • increasing the share of high-value-added products.

UNLA, in collaboration with the ULIE, plans to continue promoting these issues through dialogue with government authorities and international partners.

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