Ukraine’s Hemp Revival Gains Traction as Fibre Processor Goes Online in Zhytomyr

A new industrial hemp processing facility in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region has officially gone online, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to revive its historic hemp industry. The Ma’Rijani Hemp Company, which developed the facility within the Ma’Rizhany industrial park, is preparing to receive its first hemp harvest after a successful growing season.

The plant will initially focus on producing long hemp fibres for the textile industry, drawing from hemp grown within a 20-kilometer radius. Over 1,600 hectares are available for cultivation around the park, with the company having agreements to source from at least 700 hectares in 2025, aiming to expand to 1,200 hectares through long-term contracts with local farmers.

“Centuries of Ukrainian cannabis tradition are revived after decades of oblivion and prohibition,” said Ma’Rijani representative Dmytro Kysylevskyy in a public statement. “It’s a better financial guarantee for the farms that will become partners of the industrial park.”

Expansion and Economic Potential

The factory currently has the capacity to process more than 10,000 tons of hemp biomass annually, with plans to scale to 20,000 tons by increasing cultivation to 4,000 hectares. The project aims to attract local farmers away from unstable and politicised grain markets, which have been subject to EU trade disputes in recent years.

Tensions over Ukrainian grain exports—especially with Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia—have led to trade restrictions and farmer protests. Kysylevskyy believes hemp offers a more stable, locally driven alternative. However, the hemp sector has also faced controversy: a senior anti-corruption official was recently arrested for allegedly helping his father illegally export 20 tons of hemp seed to Russia.

Industry Hub and Investment

The Ma’Rizhany industrial park is designed to be a hub for hemp innovation, with the capacity to produce high-quality technical long fibres for textiles, shorter fibres for insulation and paper, and eventually hemp hurd for construction materials. Built on the grounds of a former flax mill, the facility has already seen $25 million in investment, with potential to grow to $100 million and employ up to 700 people.

This development is part of Ukraine’s broader national strategy to reclaim its position as a leading hemp producer. Recent reforms, including a medical cannabis law and the launch of an electronic hemp registry, have streamlined bureaucracy, making hemp cultivation more accessible.

With global demand for sustainable fibres growing, Ukraine’s hemp cultivation area—currently estimated at around 3,000 hectares—could rise to 8,000 hectares in coming years, despite challenges from the ongoing conflict and environmental factors.

“Demand for hemp fibre on the global market is growing,” Kysylevskyy said. “That gives us real momentum.”

Sources:
HempToday News
Ukrainian Government Agriculture Updates
European Industrial Hemp Association