Food imports into Ukraine soar in first half of March – customs agency

Food imports into Ukraine soared in the first half of March 2020, when almost 160,000 tonnes of basic foodstuffs worth US$211 million crossed the Ukrainian border, which was 40,000 tonnes, or 33% up year-over-year.

"These are almost 8,000 fully loaded 20-tonne trucks," the press service of Ukraine's State Customs Service said. "Ukraine is taking care of food supplies – there is no need to buy buckwheat and canned food for six months ahead!"

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In particular, over the period under review, Ukraine imported dairy products (cheeses), eggs and honey totaling 3,170 tonnes worth US$13.6 million, which was four times more in absolute numbers than in the first 17 days of March last year. Milk imports alone grew by 2.6 times, to 921 tonnes worth US$1.2 million.

The supply of imported vegetables was almost 2.4 times up, to 38,900 tonnes worth US$20.4 million. Imports of fresh fruit and nuts increased by 3%, to 45,800 tonnes worth almost US$34 million.

In addition, Ukraine boosted imports of products made of cereals and flour, pastries by 83%, to 6,160 tonnes worth US$12.3 million.

Imports of fresh fish increased by 73%, to 2,490 tonnes worth US$14 million, and shipments of crustaceans and mollusks rose by 0.5%, to 14,380 tonnes.

Purchases of coffee, tea, mate tea, spices in the first 1.5 weeks of March grew by 30%, to 1,290 tonnes worth US$4.3 million.

Imports of coffee, as well as sauces, soups and syrups increased by 23%, to 3,850 tonnes worth US$25.1 million. Also, imports of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks grew by 65%, to 16,600 tonnes worth US$23 million.

Ukraine's Customs Service earlier assured of uninterrupted supplies of products to the country's supermarkets, noting that trucks with commodities travel between countries without restrictions, despite the closure of borders by certain countries to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus.