Ukraine boosts pork exports 36% m-o-m in July, imports continue to fall - association

MOSCOW. Aug 6 (Interfax) - Ukraine increased pork exports by more than a third month-on-month in July, while imports fell by almost a quarter, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders (AUPB).

"Imports continued to decrease, while exports, on the contrary, picked up. In the course of July, almost 150 tonnes of pork (customs code 0203) were shipped into Ukraine, which is 23.5% less than a month earlier. Meanwhile, pork export volumes in the second month of summer totalled more than 400 tonnes, exceeding the June figure by more than 36%," the AUPB said, citing State Customs data.

The association said overall export and import figures are gradually converging, as the country exported 1,640 tonnes of pork in the first seven months of 2024 and imported 1,780 tonnes. In "forex terms, the difference does not exceed 10% or $0.4 million," it said.

Analysts attributed the relative parity of pork imports and exports to the price situation on Ukraine's pork market.

"The average purchase price for pork in July slightly exceeded the June figure, but overall prices remain at a fairly low level. On one hand, this forms an organic entry barrier for imports, but on the other it supports the competitiveness of Ukrainian pork on foreign markets," the AUPB said.

The main market for Ukrainian pork is still the United Arab Emirates, which accounted for 85.7% of total exports in the period, while the main suppliers are Canada and the European Union with, respectively, 62.2% and 37.8% of the total.