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Experts say it is linked with the global surplus of sugar.
Ukrainian producers in 2019 exported 236,800 tonnes of sugar, which was more than 50% down from 584,900 reported in 2018.
Read alsoUkraine cuts sugar output by 19% as of Jan 10
"The year was not very favorable for Ukrainian sugar producers, as we can see a significant decline in the exports against the previous year. Earlier, monthly exports reached 40,000-60,000 tonnes, whereas they were 5,000 tonnes per month on the average in the last six months," said Deputy Chair of the Board of the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine (NASPU) Ukrtsukor, Ruslana Yanenko, as reported by the Association's press service on January 15.
First, it is linked with the global surplus of sugar, which "put pressure" on the market and prices, she said.
In addition, Ukraine has been gradually losing markets in Africa and Asia, which were once the main importers of Ukrainian sugar, because of the growing competition from Russia and the European Union.
According to Yanenko, there will be no significant changes in exports next year, as the trend of a reduction in raw materials and a fall in sugar production over unfavorable global prices will continue, while the competition on the markets which have always been the most profitable for Ukrainian sugar producers will intensify.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian sugar refineries reduced sugar production from September 1, 2019, the start of the current season and marketing year (MY, September 2019-August 2020), to January 10, 2020. The production fell by 19% compared to January 10, 2019, to 1.48 million tonnes.
Ukrainian enterprises during the sugar refining season of MY 2018-2019 reduced sugar output by 15%, to 1.7 million tonnes.