Ukraine exports nearly 30 mln tonnes of foods since end-Feb 2022 - Agrarian Policy Ministry

MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax) - Ukraine has exported 29.1 million tonnes of cereals, legumes, oilseeds and products of their processing since the end of February 2022, including 16.6 million tonnes over two and a half months of this fall.

Ukraine shipped 2.8 million tonnes of agricultural products in the first half of November 2022, which is 0.8 million tonnes, or 22% less than in the first half of October, the Ukrainian media said with the reference to the website of the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Industry.

In terms of agricultural crops, Ukraine dispatched 829,000 tonnes of wheat and 774,000 tonnes of corn on November 1-15, while the exports of each of those crops slightly exceeded 1 million tonnes in the first half of October. Also, in the second half of November, wheat exports exceeded corn exports for the first time since the beginning of the crisis.

In the meantime, rapeseed exports dropped 1.9 times to 183,000 tonnes on November 1-15, compared to October 1-15, while the exports of sunflower oil decreased to 307,oo0 tonnes (-16%), alongside a decline in exports of all types of meal to 173,000 tonnes (-32%). The exports of barley remained practically unchanged (166,000 tonnes), the exports of soybeans grew 1.7 times to 199,000 tonnes, and the exports of sunflower seeds rose 22% to 186,000 tonnes.

According to the Agrarian Policy and Food Industry, wheat accounted for 29.33% of food exports in the first half of November, alongside 27.39% of corn, 10.86% of sunflower oil, 7.05% of soybeans, 6.48% of rapeseed, 6.6% of sunflower seed, 6.13% of meal, 5.88% of barley, and 0.28% of soy oil.

"In terms of transportation, foods were exported in the first half of November in the following way: 1.9 million tonnes were shipped via ports (both marine and river), in 541,000 tonnes by rail, 325,000 tonnes by truck, and 30,000 tonnes by ferry," the ministry said.

Ukraine exported 6.9 million tonnes of foods both in October and September, in addition to 4.6 million tonnes in August, 3.0 million tonnes in July, 2.7 million tonnes of June, 1.74 million tonnes in May, 0.96 million tonnes in April, and 0.33 million tonnes in March.

Before the crisis, Ukraine was monthly exporting 5 million to 6 million tonnes of agricultural products, on the average, mostly, through its maritime infrastructure in the Black Sea.