Ukraine-Netherlands trade hits US$1.5 bln in 2017

Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Maksym Martyniuk says trade between Ukraine and the Netherlands in 2017 grew by 69%, to US$1.5 billion, rising 21%, to $324,000, in the first quarter of 2018.

"In 2017, trade between our countries was estimated at almost $1.5 billion, including $1.28 billion in Ukrainian exports. Farm produce supplies to the Netherlands increased by 80% against 2016. The development of organic production is among the promising and strategically important areas of cooperation for the next period," Martyniuk said at a meeting with Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine Eduard Hooks on May 30, according to the ministry's website. The parties discussed the results of trade and economic cooperation, as well as the potential of bilateral relations in agriculture.

As reported, the growth in trade was mainly due to increased exports. This year, Ukraine for the first time exported apple seedlings to the Netherlands, whereas it earlier imported horticultural products exclusively.

Ukraine is ready to increase shipments to the Netherlands market of products of flour-and-cereals industry, as well as meat products, natural and mineral water, syrup, residues and waste products of the food industry, etc.

Read alsoUkraine sees exports grow almost 54% in Jan-Feb 2018The Netherlands is interested in Ukraine's land reform, support of farmers, and the investment attractiveness of the Ukrainian agribusiness sector.

The Ambassador of the Netherlands noted the significant progress in bilateral trade and cooperation in recent years, and expressed confidence in further constructive dialogue.

The parties also noted that intensified cooperation was thanks to the efforts by a Ukrainian-Netherlands ad hoc group on agriculture, which had already held three meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for July 2018 to be held in Kyiv.

Based on the outcome of the last meeting, the parties identified key priorities in bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector: potato growing and dairy production; the awareness of the households on the implementation of land reform in Ukraine; veterinary and phytosanitary; agrarian education of the adult population; and food industry.

Read alsoBudgetary efficiency from bill on scrap metal export duty estimated at US$38.3 mln per yearAs UNIAN reported earlier, according to the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry, Ukrainian farmers in 2016 supplied to the European Union markets agrarian products worth $4.242 billion, which was 1.6% up against 2015. Thus, the EU market in 2016 accounted for 27.5% of Ukraine's agriexports.

In 2017, the Netherlands for the first time became the largest importer of Ukrainian meat.