The FoodAgro Meetup in Dubai brought Ukrainian producers together with international partners, underscoring how the MENA region is increasingly shaping Black Sea grain flows. Market speakers noted that MENA consistently imports more than 60 million tonnes of wheat a year, keeping demand resilient even when global consumption looks flat. With Egypt projected to lift wheat imports to a record 13.0 million tonnes in 2025/26 and Algeria approaching 9.5 million tonnes, shifting supplier shares and tender dynamics are reinforcing the Black Sea corridor’s strategic importance.

On Jan. 26, the first FoodAgro Meetup, a professional business meeting for Ukrainian producers and international partners, took place in Dubai. The event was organized by the Ukrainian Export Alliance together with the Ukraine Pulse and Soybean Association (UPSA). The meeting brought together more than 150 participants from 25 countries.

According to UPSA President Antonina Skliarenko, choosing Dubai as the venue is part of a long term strategy to expand Ukraine’s presence in international markets. “The MENA market today is one of the most promising for Ukrainian agricultural products, particularly pulses, soybeans, grains, and processed goods. Countries in the region are increasing food imports and looking for reliable suppliers. FoodAgro Meetup is an opportunity for Ukrainian companies to work directly with buyers and strengthen their positions in the global food market,” she noted.

International partners also presented their perspectives during the event. Welcoming participants, Khalid Sharaf, Director of Corporate Sales and Business Development at DMCC (UAE), said holding the meeting during Gulfood, the region’s largest food and beverage exhibition, highlighted Dubai’s role as a global hub for commodity trade.

Bassel Bitar, DMCC Regional Representative for Asia and Eastern Europe, said Ukrainian businesses are actively integrating into DMCC’s ecosystem. DMCC brings together more than 26,000 companies, including more than 200 Ukrainian firms, he noted, adding that company registration and management can be handled online and that proximity to port and airport supports international trade.

UKRAINE REBUILDS POSITION IN EGYPT WHEAT MARKET

Beyond networking, the event also featured market analytics focused on the Black Sea to MENA corridor. Daria Marchenko, Commodity Broker at Atria Brokers, walked the audience through key findings from ASAP Agri’s market presentation, underscoring MENA’s growing importance in the global grain landscape. She noted that even when global wheat demand appears flat or declining, the MENA region consistently imports more than 60 million tonnes of wheat each year, making it a battleground for exporters. With limited domestic production and structurally low stocks, wheat imports serve as the region’s primary balancing mechanism. A smaller 2025/26 harvest and lower carry in stocks are expected to keep import demand firm across key destinations.

A central part of the presentation focused on Egypt, where wheat imports are projected to reach a record 13.0 million tonnes in 2025/26, up from 12.4 million tonnes in the previous season. This reinforces Egypt’s role as the region’s demand anchor. Marchenko highlighted a noticeable shift in supplier shares. While Russia remains the leading origin, its share has declined to around 60%. Ukraine has made a strong comeback, accounting for nearly 25% of Egypt’s wheat imports between July and December. Romania and France have also reappeared, together supplying about 12%, partly through purchases by Mostakbal in Egypt.

BLACK SEA GAINS GROUND IN ALGERIA

Marchenko also drew attention to Algeria, where wheat imports are approaching 9.5 million tonnes, close to record levels. The supplier landscape has changed markedly compared to 2020/21. Ukraine has moved to the top position, roughly on par with Bulgaria at around 32% each, while Romania has strengthened its presence. France, by contrast, has effectively disappeared from Algerian tenders due to diplomatic tensions and the exclusion of its wheat, creating a clear opening for Black Sea origins.

Turning to corn, Marchenko recalled Turkey’s critical role last season, when imports exceeded 5.5 million tonnes and Ukraine supplied roughly three quarters of the volume under 1 million tonne quotas. This season, however, has begun more quietly. In Egypt, competition remains intense, with buyers typically favoring Brazilian corn unless Ukrainian offers are $10 to $15 per tonne more competitive. Such price sensitive dynamics, she noted, underline why real time price monitoring and regional demand analysis, core to ASAP Agri’s work, remain essential for traders operating in the Black Sea to MENA corridor.

PULSES OVERSUPPLY PRESSURES PRICES

Gaurav Jain, CEO of AgPulse Analytica (Singapore), said Ukraine’s key challenge this season is sales rather than production. “This year Ukraine harvested a record pea crop of about 675,000 tonnes, while total market supply reaches nearly 700,000 tonnes. At the same time, Europe collected a strong domestic harvest, and for the first time in recent years its production exceeded consumption. Therefore, the issue of sales markets for Ukraine is currently open,” he said.

In his view, the Middle East and North Africa remains one of the most stable global importers of pulses and is highly promising for Ukrainian producers. He said the UAE is becoming not just an importer but also a logistics and trading hub for pulses, while global stocks of pulses are estimated at about 4 million tonnes, pressuring prices but also creating opportunities for importers and for MENA to strengthen its role in global pulse trade.

The FoodAgro Meetup is not viewed as a one time initiative. Organizers said the first meeting in Dubai received positive feedback, and partners have signaled readiness to continue supporting the platform’s development. “Our goal is to create a permanent international platform that will allow Ukrainian agribusiness to systematically expand its geographic presence in foreign markets,” Skliarenko said.