The international business, united by the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, emphasizes the urgent need to abolish export duties on soybeans and rapeseed.
They came into effect on September 4, 2025, according to the Law of Ukraine #4536-IX “On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and Other Legislative Acts of Ukraine in Connection with the Adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Integrated Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution” and for the Purpose of Improving Certain Provisions of Tax Legislation” (Law #4536-IX).
The amendment introducing export duties on soybeans and rapeseed was included in the Law #4536-IX in violation of the principles of legislative drafting, the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and the principle of stability of tax legislation. Such changes contradict Ukraine’s European integration course and Article 31 of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, undermine the investment climate, create risks for the rule of law, and lead to losses for agricultural producers due to a decline in purchase prices and a reduction of sown areas.
Since September 4, 2025, Ukrainian Black Sea ports have been blocked by vessels, and port railways – by railcars loaded with rapeseed and soybeans, due to the lack of regulation of the procedure and criteria for applying a zero-duty rate for agricultural producers. As a result, all exporters, including agricultural producers, cannot export their goods and are suffering losses due to fines for vessel demurrage and other vehicles, excessive grain storage in ports, extended insurance coverage, and failure to fulfill contracts with foreign trade partners. High-value goods are stuck in ports and exposed to danger under regular shelling of ports, as are the crews of foreign vessels, whose customs clearance is blocked. The inflow of foreign currency revenue (up to 2 billion US dollars) for the 2025 rapeseed and soybean harvest has been seriously disrupted. As of now, at least nine vessels are in such demurrage, and according to preliminary estimates, the approximate losses for business will amount to between 5 and 10 million US dollars per month.
Considering the above-mentioned and current critical situation, AmCham Ukraine calls on the Government to:
- promptly submit to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine an initiative to cancel export duties for soybeans and rapeseed, aiming to stabilize the market and restore exports
- establish a procedure for unconditional reimbursement of export duties on soybeans and rapeseed paid by agricultural producers since Law #4536-IX entered into force
