From January to May 2021, Ukraine saw a significant imbalance in its pork trade, with imports reaching 10.3 thousand tons valued at $19 million, while exports only amounted to 717 tons worth $3.7 million. Denmark and Poland were the primary suppliers of pork imports, indicating a strong demand that surpassed local production. This imbalance is attributed to a decrease in the number of pigs in Ukraine, which is part of a larger trend of declining profitability in pork farming due to low selling prices and increased costs of grain and protein components for feed. Consequently, the Association of Livestock Breeders of Ukraine warns of a potential pork and lard shortage, alongside concerns for the sustainability of small and medium-sized pork producers in the face of rising costs and falling profitability. This situation is further compounded by a general decline in meat production in Ukraine in 2020, marking a decrease of 1.1% to 3.45 million tons in live weight, with a larger drop observed in production by the population.