Ukraine boosts revenue from exports of frozen fish by 43% in 10 months

Ukraine in January-October 2018 exported 511.9 tonnes of frozen fish worth US$1.1 million, which is almost 1.5 times up on the same period last year, the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry's press service reported.

"In the 10 months of 2018, some 511.9 tonnes of Ukrainian frozen fish worth US$1.1 million was shipped to foreign markets. During the same period last year, 485 tonnes of this produce was exported to the tune of US$770,000. Thus, export revenue increased by 43%," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry says the growth was due to the reorientation of Ukrainian producers to global markets with a higher margin.

In particular, European countries accounted for almost 66% of the total revenue from frozen fish exports in January-October 2018, whereas by the end of the same period last year, 60% of this produce was shipped to the CIS countries.

Read alsoUkraine boosts revenue from exports of frozen fish by 43% in 10 months

In particular, Germany became the largest importer of Ukrainian frozen fish during the reporting period. It bought 110 tonnes worth US$348,300. Also large buyers of this produce were Hungary (126.6 tonnes, US$297,300), Moldova (112 tonnes, US$196,000) and Azerbaijan (62 tonnes, US$94,000).

In the same period last year, most of frozen fish was shipped to Belarus (229.6 tonnes, US$301,000).

Trout accounted for most of exports in January-October 2018 (54.2 tonnes, US$259,100), other large batches were carp (44.4 tonnes, US$126,000), pike perch (30.3 tonnes, US$120,800), catfish (12.2 tonnes for US$8,700), herring (11.9 tonnes, US$13,800), horse-mackerel (11.8 tonnes, US$24,000), sardines (10 tonnes, US$10,000).

In 2017, Ukraine exported 652.7 tonnes of frozen fish worth US$1.1 million, the ministry said.