Grain market in Ukraine: financial and economic aspects

The study focused on analysing the financial and economic performance indicators of agricultural enterprises in Kharkiv Region, with an emphasis on calculating production costs per unit and identifying the specific features of the grain sector. The methodology included data analysis from three enterprises with different organisational and legal forms: the private enterprise “Agro”, the farming enterprise “Zerniatko”, and the limited liability company “Barvinok”. For each of these, unit production costs were calculated for three main crops: wheat, maize, and barley. The findings revealed that the private enterprise “Agro” incurred losses in wheat cultivation due to high production costs exceeding the market price, highlighting the need to optimise agro-technological practices. Meanwhile, the farming enterprise “Zerniatko” demonstrated stable financial results thanks to a diversified income structure that mitigated market fluctuation risks. The limited liability company “Barvinok” achieved the highest profit per unit of output by specialising in barley cultivation and benefiting from favourable soil conditions. However, its narrow specialisation increased risks amid changing market conditions. For maize, the most profitable enterprise achieved a profitability rate of 1,000 UAH per tonne, while for barley it was 850 UAH per tonne. An analysis of income structures showed that diversified enterprises were more resilient to market volatility, whereas a high concentration on a single crop, as in the case of the barley-focused enterprise, posed additional risks. The analysis found that the level of financial efficiency depended on specialisation, land bank size, and the level of technological development. Enterprises with a more balanced production structure were better able to adapt to market changes, while focusing on a single crop could both increase profitability and introduce additional risks. The data obtained allowed for an assessment of the economic efficiency of each enterprise. The study's findings support effective management decisions aimed at minimising risks in Ukraine's grain sector