In particular, they processed 13.7 mln tonnes of sugar beets, produced 2.01 mln tonnes of sugar in 2016 / Photo from UNIAN
Sugar exports from Ukraine in 2016 totaled 465,900 tonnes, which was a record high level over Ukraine's independence, according to the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.
"In 2016, sugar exports totaled 465,900 tonnes, which is a record high indicator in the history of Ukraine's independence. Therefore, the availability of Ukrainian sugar made of beets in the global market has quadrupled from the previous year," the ministry's press service said in a statement.
In the four months since the start of the current sugar production season of the 2016-2017 marketing year, i.e. September through December 2016, Ukraine exported 344,100 tonnes of sugar already.
For the first time, Ukrainian-made sugar was shipped onto such markets as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Macedonia, Sudan, and China.
"Ukrainian producers have opened the new markets thanks to a gradual improvement in the quality of sugar," it said.
Ukrainian sugar refineries by January 11 had completed the recent production season, which started on August 20, 2016, with a 40.5% increase in output, according to the Ukrtsukor sugar producers' association.
In particular, they processed 13.7 million tonnes of sugar beets and produced 2.01 million tonnes of sugar. Forty-two sugar refineries were in operation in the past season.
Read alsoSugar refineries complete season with 40.5% rise in outputThe association says the quality of sugar beets was better during the past season than in the previous one – the average sugar content of beets was 17.65%, and the sugar recovery rate was 14.68%.
Some 284,000 ha were sown with sugar beets in 2016, whereas 239,000 ha were under this crop in 2015.
The yield of sugar beets in 2015 was 10.3 million tonnes, sugar production stood at 1.43 million tonnes. Thirty-seven sugar refineries worked in the 2015-2016 marketing year, Ukrtsukor said.