REUTERS
Ukrainian farmers in the past year supplied agricultural products to the EU market worth $4.2 bln, which was 1.6% up from 2015, according to the press service of the National Scientific Center "Institute of Agrarian Economy," referring to its deputy director, PhD in economics Mykola Pugachov.
As in previous years, in 2016 Ukraine mutually traded agrarian products mainly with Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Italy, Germany and France. The share of foreign trade turnover with these countries amounted to slightly less than 75% of the total agricultural trade with the EU, the press service reported.
Read alsoUkraine set to extend agricultural cooperation with IndiaIn 2016, Ukraine exported mainly grain crops worth $1.3 bln, in particular, 6.7 mln tonnes of maize and 1.3 mln tonnes of wheat. Ukraine also exported oilseeds (mainly rapeseed, soybean and sunflower) worth $607 mln, vegetable oils – $1.2 bln, and residues and by-products – $439 mln.
At the same time, the EU delivered to Ukraine agricultural products worth $1.9 bln, which was 14.4% up from 2015. In 2016, Ukraine has purchased from Europe, mainly grain, including 27,000 tonnes of corn seeds worth $106 mln, as well as oil seeds – $111 mln, cocoa and chocolate – $114 mln, alcoholic and soft drinks – $180 mln. Shipments of tobacco and its products from the EU stood at $115 mln, according to the press service.
As reported, Ukraine has exhausted its quotas for wheat, corn, barley groats, honey, apple and grape juices, processed tomatoes and oats, as well as for the first time used the quotas on sugar, starch, malt, and poultry.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian exports of agricultural products increased by 4.5% in 2016 from 2015, to $15.5 bln. Grain crops, oil, oilseeds, soybeans, sugar and meat were traditionally the main export products in 2016. Key markets were Asian countries (45.9% of exports, to $7 bln), the EU (27.5% of exports, to $4.2 bln), Africa (15.7% of exports, to $2.4 bln), the CIS countries (7.7% of exports, to $1.2bln), and the U.S. (0.9% of exports, to $45 mln), according to the Agrarian Policy Ministry.