Ukraine could increase oilseed exports 12.5% this agri-year - ministry
KYIV. Oct 31 (Interfax) - Ukraine's exports of oilseed crops could increase 12.5% to 2.7 million tonnes during this agricultural year, the country's Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry has said.
In this agricultural year of September to August, Ukraine will export 200,000 tonnes of sunflower (257,500 tonnes in the preceding season), according to the ministry.
Exports of rapeseed this agricultural year, which began in July and will end next June, are expected to weigh in at 900,000 tonnes versus 1.158 million tonnes a year earlier. Exports of soy (also July-June) are forecast at 1.6 million tonnes (1.24 million tonnes a year ago).
As of October 30, Ukraine had exported 855,400 tonnes of rapeseed, 294,000 tonnes of soy, and almost 33,000 tonnes of sunflower.
The ministry says that - according to the early figures - the country's rapeseed harvest will amount to 1.1 million tonnes, that of soy to 2.5 million tonnes, and that of sunflower to 7.5 million tonnes.
Ukraine is one of the world's biggest producers of oilseed crops and sunflower oil.