REUTERS
The exports of Ukrainian agrarian products to European countries in January-June 2017 increased by 31.4%, or by $663.4 million, compared to the same period last year, amounting to $2.774 billion, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, with reference to the Deputy Minister for European Integration Olha Trofimtseva.
"Today, the EU countries are consistently ranked second in the regional structure of our agricultural exports. In the first half of 2017, their share was 34.9%. The total foreign trade turnover between Ukraine and the EU also increased by 24.1%, or by $739.3 million, compared to the same period in 2016, amounting to $3,802.8 billion. This is the concrete result of the Ukraine-EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement," Trofimtseva said.
According to the deputy minister, compared to the corresponding period of 2016, in the first six months of this year, the volume of supplies to European markets has grown of such Ukrainian agricultural products as maize - by $344.1 million (54.3%), soybean - by $98.1 million (by 3.3 times), cake - by $37.7 million (18.5%), sunflower oil - by $36.4 million (5.3%); meat and edible poultry by-products - by $27.8 million (94.4%); margarine products - by $18.7 million (by 13 times); malt extract, flour products, and cereals - by $12.2 million (by 78.7 times) barley - by $9.1 million (by 2.6 times); bakery and confectionery products - by $9.1 million (97.5%); fruits and nuts raw, boiled, or frozen - by $8 million (70.7%); honey - by $6.9 million (30.6%).
Read alsoEU's Council agrees its stance on trade measures for Ukraine"Also, deliveries of niche and processed products with added value to the European markets increased significantly, for example, butter - by $5.3 million (by 1,064.8 times), dried bean legumes - by $2.4 million (86 %); chocolate - by $2.2 million (24%); canned tomatoes - by $2.1 million (12.1%), etc.," the press service quotes Trofimtseva as saying.
According to the report, among the leading importers was the Netherlands with a share in total exports to the EU at 17.6%, Spain - at 17%, Italy - at 13.5%, Poland - at 12.1%, France – at 6.8%, Germany – at 6.7%, UK - at 3.8%, Portugal – at 3.3%, Belgium – at 3% and Hungary – at 2.1%.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine entered the TOP-3 major exporters of agricultural products to the market of the European Union following the DCFTA introduction on January 1, 2016.
Read alsoEU turning into Ukraine's main trading partner – mediaAccording to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, the volume of trade between Ukraine and the European Union amounts to 41% of Ukraine’s total international commodity turnover.
Ukrainian agricultural producers last year delivered $4.2 billion worth of agricultural products to the markets of the European Union, which is 1.6% more than a year ago.