Abstract
<jats:p>This article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the mechanisms of inter-enterprise cooperation as a key determinant of value-added creation in Ukraine’s agri-food sector, as well as to a systematic assessment of the impact of cooperative processes on the profitability of economic entities and the enhancement of their export potential in wartime conditions and the prospects for post-war recovery. The relevance of the study is determined by the structural paradox of domestic agricultural exports: despite the preservation of significant foreign exchange earnings, the share of value-added products remains critically low compared to its potential, which leads to the chronic underutilization of the sector’s resource and technological potential. The intensification of this contradiction amid the volatility of global food markets creates an urgent need for scientifically grounded approaches to building effective cooperative systems. The methodological basis of the study consists of statistical and comparative analysis of foreign trade data for 2023–2026, structural analysis of the commodity composition of agricultural exports, and geo-economic analysis of the diversification of export markets. The theoretical propositions were verified using official customs and statistical reports. The study found that product groups with developed cooperative chains demonstrate leading positive dynamics: the growth in exports of vegetable oil was +27.5%, and for meat and meat products, +11.1%. A two-speed nature of the structural transformation of agricultural exports was identified, in which the processing-cooperative track is gradually displacing the raw material track. Geographical diversification indicates growing competitiveness of processed products in the markets of Turkey, China, and the EU. The practical value of the study lies in establishing an analytical foundation for developing state mechanisms to stimulate cooperative processes and the structural transformation of the agricultural value chain in the context of Ukraine’s European integration strategy. Prospects for further research are linked to the development of quantitative models for assessing the effect of cooperation on the level of value added and the study of institutional mechanisms for supporting cooperative structures.</jats:p>