Seeds imports down by 25% in Jan-Sep 2020 due to pandemic

Ukraine in January-September 2020 cut its seed imports to 40,000 tonnes worth US$338.6 million, which was 25% down year-over-year (y-o-y) over the COVID-19 pandemic.

That is according to a statement by the press service of the National Scientific Center "Institute of Agrarian Economics," referring to Doctor of Economics Oleksandr Zakharchuk.

"The trend towards an increase in seeds imports, which has been observed in Ukraine since 2015 and continued until the past year, is the result of a sharp increase in demand from holding companies, as well as large- and medium-sized producers. In 2020, quarantine and logistic restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, provided the impetus for the development of domestic seed production and foreign seed selection companies within the country," the press service quoted Zakharchuk as saying on December 10.

According to the expert, most foreign seed companies have already built their capacities in Ukraine, selling seeds to Ukrainian commodity producers without even having to import them.

Read alsoFarmers harvest 63.5 mln tonnes of grain as of Dec 7 – economy ministryCorn accounted for the lion's share (90.0%) of the country's grain seeds imports in 2020, that is 18,700 tonnes. Wheat seeds imports stood at 1,100 tonnes worth US$800,000. Ukraine also imported 400 tonnes of barley seeds, 500 tonnes of rye seeds, and 200 tonnes of sorghum seeds.

Share of sunflower seeds was 80% in the oil crops seed imports, or 15,800 tonnes. Also, Ukraine bought 3,600 tonnes of rapeseed and 600 tonnes of soybean seeds. These types of seeds accounted for over 90% of domestic imports.

Seeds exports

Exports of seeds of grain and oil crops from Ukraine in January-September 2020 grew to US$16.5 million, which was 30% up against US$12.7 million reported y-o-y, according to the National Scientific Center "Institute of Agrarian Economics."