One of the main challenges that stands today before the Ukrainian companies is the need to develop the processing industry for the production and increase in export of the products with high added value.
It is believed that Ukraine exports only raw materials. For the most part it is true, but the export is not limited only to raw materials. In Ukraine, there are companies that took the lead in the export race due to the fact that they are working in this direction for many years already. By producing the finished product and exporting it abroad, they argue that the Ukrainian product is quite competitive and can compete with well-known international brands, even on the markets of the European Union.
Of course, the export of the finished products is more complex than the export of raw materials, but there is an argument that justifies the effort, and this argument is profitability. For example, in agriculture, the finished products are 3-5 times more expensive than the raw materials they are made of. We have prepared for you a list of successful exporting companies that have proved by their personal experience that the export of finished products is much more advantageous than the export of raw materials.
1. TB Fruit
About company. The company was founded in 2003, and for 12 years it managed to become the largest in Ukraine and the third European producer of concentrated juice. TB Fruit has a closed production cycle, which includes gardens and fields for the cultivation of fruits, berries and vegetables (1300 hectares), manufacturing and processing facilities (7 plants), as well as the logistics chain (160 tanks). In addition to the concentrated juice, the company also produces fruit and berry puree, directly squeezed juices, frozen fruits and vegetables. Ukrainian consumers know TB Fruit due to the Galicia brend.
What and where it exports. Last September the company started to export its products to Poland. Unlike the majority of Ukrainian exporters that are present on the European market, TB Fruit competes not in economic but in the premium segment.
Website TB Fruit
2. “Elfa”
About company. Elfa was founded in 1997 and initially was engaged in distribution of European brands of cosmetics. Over time, the company began to produce its own products at the facilities in Poland and Ukraine. Today, the company produces a wide range of men, women, and children cosmetics and body care; it also produces household products.
What and where it exports. The company’s products are sold to various regions of the world and it includes more than 15 brands. Export is carried out in particular in the CIS countries (Belarus, Azerbaijan, Russia), Middle East (Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia), as well as in Latvia, Poland, and other EU member states.
Website “Elfa”  
3. “Kolonist”
About company. The company was founded by the former Energy Minister Ivan Plachkov and his wife Svetlana. Based on the description on their site, while creating a company they had set a goal to “make an honest wine”. In addition to the equipment for the production of wine, the company also has its own vineyards with total area of 20 hectares. However, they cover only 1/3 of the production needs. The rest of the grapes are purchased from neighboring farms vineyards.
What and where it exports. In total, the company produces more than 15 kinds of wines, including Cabernet, Merlot, Riesling. and so on. Their products are exported to Poland, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, and the UK.
Website “Kolonist”  

4. “Yarych”
About company. The lack of funds for the promotion of products abroad does not mean that your company should abandon the export. You can make products in Ukraine and deliver them to Europe, where they will be sold under the brand names of the European companies. This is exactly what Oleg Klimchuk and Vladimir Gnatyuk did; they are the owners of the Ukrainian company engaged in the production of cookies and crackers “Yarych”.
What and where it exports. Having obtained all the necessary certificates and having performed the standardization of production, the company established export of their products to Poland in November 2014.
Website “Yarych”   

5. Ovostar
About company. The company was founded in 1998, and in 2011 it already completed an IPO on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Today, Ovostar is among the top three companies engaged in the production of eggs and egg products in Ukraine. In addition to the production of eggs, dry and liquid egg products, the company is also engaged in the production of sunflower oil, animal feed, meal and fuel briquettes.
What and where it exports. The company exports ready egg products to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, China, Iran, Kuwait, and Sudan.
Website Ovostar  
6. Terra Food  
About company. Terra Food is the largest Ukrainian producer of milk and dairy products. Consumers know the company due to such brand names as “Farm”, “Tulchinka”, “Gold Reserve”, “Premialle”, “White Line”, and others. The 17 factories of the company are engaged in the production of processed and hard cheeses, butter, a mixture of butter and vegetable oils.
What and where it exports. The products of the holding company are exported to more than 30 countries, including Poland, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, etc. A complete list of the countries that import Terra Food products can be found here.
Website Terra Food  

7. ViOil 
About company. ViOil was founded in 1992, and today it is a vertically integrated holding company with a closed production cycle. The production is carried out in two oil-fat factories. The company also owns 13 elevators with the total capacity of 360,000 tons. ViOil produces rapeseed, sunflower and soybean oils, vegetable fats, oil meal, pellets, and fatty acids.
What and where it exports. The company’s products are exported to more than 50 countries, including the EU, the CIS, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, North and East Africa. Robust sales of products are adjusted in particular in Poland, the Baltic countries, China, India, Turkey, and Egypt.
Website ViOil  
8. Eurogold 

About company. The company Eurogold was originally founded in Italy, but eventually received a Ukrainian residence. About 12 years ago, the production was moved to Zhitomir. Today, every tenth ironing board bought in the EU is made by Eurogold. In addition to ironing boards, the company also produces ladders and laundry dryers. In the near future, Eurogold management plans to set up the production of exotic for Ukraine products – surfboards.
What and where it exports. The company’s products are known not only throughout the whole Europe, including France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Belgium, and other EU Member States, but also around the world. Eurogold products can be even bought on the Amazon website.
Website Eurogold  

9. «StudioPack» 
About company. “StudioPack” is engaged in the production of packaging and food containers from aluminum foil since 2010. Prior to this, the Ukrainian company was engaged in retailing of the similar products of the foreign manufacturers since 2006.
What and where it exports. Despite its relatively small size (only 60 employees), the company sells its products not only on the Ukrainian market and in the CIS countries, but also on the EU member countries’ markets. In particular, the company’s products are exported to Germany.
Website «StudioPack»

10. Factor-Druk  
About company. Factor-Druk is Kharkov typography, operating in Ukraine since 1996. Today it provides various printing services in the field of printing and post-printing processes.
What and where it exports. Until 2014, Russian market provided about 30% of orders for the company. Today, the company has managed to reorient its production on the markets of the EU member countries. In particular, Factor-Druk has already completed a number of orders for German customers.
Website Factor-Druk  
Even this short list shows that there are the companies capable of producing high-quality export products in Ukraine, even in the current difficult economic situation. Most of these companies are the representatives of medium-sized businesses, and not giant monopolies or state-owned companies. Therefore, it is time for your company to think about switching to the production of the finished products. If this worked for them, why should not you give it a try?