EU countries buying more agrarian produce from Ukraine

Ukraine increased foreign trade turnover of agrarian and food products with the EU countries by 14% in January-April 2018, to $2.8 billion dollars.

"In January-April 2018, the foreign trade turnover of agrarian and food produce between Ukraine and the European Union countries increased by almost 14% year-over-year (y-o-y), amounting to $2.8 billion. At the same time, agricultural exports to the EU countries during this period grew by $145 million y-o-y, amounting to $1.9 billion," the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reported, with reference to Deputy Minister for European Integration Olha Trofimtseva.

According to Trofimtseva, the greatest demand among European consumers is recorded for such Ukrainian products as cereals. Their exports to the EU over the said period stood at $749.5 million, oil – at $370.9 million, oil seeds – at $194.3 million, residues and waste products of the food industry – at $177.2 million, meat and food by-products of poultry – at $76.4 million.

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She added that import tariff quotas for garlic (494,900 tonnes), oats (3,476.9 tonnes), sugar (18,121.35 tonnes), other sugars (12,720 tonnes), mushrooms (500 tonnes), products from processed milk (1,992 tonnes), sugar syrups (2,000 tonnes) and others remained almost unused.

"I will note that additional quotas are not yet fully used for such goods as grape juice, oats, honey, barley cereals, processed tomatoes. Also, additional quotas for barley and barley flour, eggs, albumins and milk remain unused," Trofimtseva said.

According to the deputy minister, Ukraine's agrarian and food exports totaled almost $6 billion over the four months of 2018, a significant share in the commodity structure of exports belongs to cereals – 37%, vegetable oils – 26.1% and oilseeds – 9%.