Ukraine exports nearly 40 mln tonnes of agricultural produce since end-Feb 2022

MOSCOW. Jan 9 (Interfax) - Ukraine exported 38.94 million tonnes of grains, legumes, and oil-bearing crops and processed agricultural products from the end of February 2022 to the end of 2022, Ukrainian media reported on January 5 with reference to the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry's website.

In December 2022 alone, Ukraine exported 6.75 million tonnes of agricultural produce, which is 0.9 million tonnes, or 15%, more than in November 2022. In particular, this amount included 3.26 million tonnes of corn (+61% from November) and 1.55 million tonnes of wheat (-1.8%).

Exports of sunflower oil in December 2022 amounted to 467,000 tonnes (roughly as much as in November), soya beans 387,000 tonnes (roughly as much), sunflower seeds 312,000 tonnes (+17%), oilcake and grist of all types 330,000 tonnes (-4%), rapeseeds 236,000 tonnes (-42%), and soya beans 20,400 tonnes (+24%).

Corn accounted for over 48.3% of Ukrainian agricultural exports in December, wheat 23.0%, sunflower oil 6.9%, soya beans 5.7%, oilcake and grist of all types 4.9%, sunflower seeds 4.6%, rapeseeds 3.5%, and soybean oil 0.3%, the ministry said.

About 75% (5.07 million tonnes) of agricultural produce exported from Ukraine in December was shipped by sea, 17% (1.15 million tonnes) by rail, and 7% (0.48 million tonnes) by road.

As was reported with reference to the Agriculture and Food Ministry, Ukraine exported 5.9 million tonnes of agricultural produce in November, 6.9 million tonnes in October and September each, 4.6 million tonnes in August, 2.7 million tonnes in July, 2.17 million tonnes in June, 1.74 million tonnes in May, 0.97 million tonnes in April, and 0.33 million tonnes in March.

Prior to the crisis, Ukraine exported on average from 5 million to 6 million tonnes of agricultural produce a month mainly through its Black Sea infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian media said, citing the website of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, that Ukraine exported 22.76 million tonnes of grain between the start of the 2022-2023 marketing year, which began in July 2022 and runs through June 2023, and January 2, including 12.64 million tonnes of corn (55.5% of Ukraine's total agricultural exports), 8.41 million tonnes of wheat (36.9%), and 1.63 million tonnes of barley (7.1%).

Grain exports this year are 31.43% below the 33.2 million tonnes exported over the same period of the previous marketing year, i.e. between July 1, 2021 and January 2, 2022. For comparison, the previous maximum rate of exports was recorded on December 2, 2022, when the gap from last year's figures was the smallest over the past few months, standing at 29.84%.

Ukraine exported 8.41 million tonnes of wheat between the start of the current marketing year and January 2 (1.91 times less than over the same period the year before), 1.63 million tonnes of barley (down 3.2-fold), and 12,500 tonnes of rye (down 9.7-fold). Meanwhile, corn exports were up 9.5% to 12.64 million tonnes year-on-year, and flour exports were up 15.9% to 69,000 tonnes year-on-year.

Only 15,000 tonnes of corn were shipped from Ukraine to foreign markets on January 1, 2023, but no other crops were exported, it said.

Ukraine's grain exports during the December 21-January 2 stood at an average of 196,400 tonnes per day, as compared to the average daily export of 134,300 tonnes on December 14-21, 148,600 tonnes on December 2-14, and 222,500 tonnes on November 28-December 2, the ministry said. Thus, the average daily rate of exports on December 21-January 2 increased by 46.1% as compared to the December 14-21 period.

According to earlier reports, Ukraine exported 48.51 million tonnes of grains and leguminous crops in the 2021-2022 marketing year, up 8.4% from the previous season, including 18.74 million tonnes of wheat, up 12.6%, 23.54 million tonnes of corn, up 1.9%, 5.75 million tonnes of barley, up 35.9%, and 70,900 tonnes of flour, down 44.1%.

Ukraine exported 44.72 million tonnes of grain and leguminous crops in the 2020-2021 marketing year, among them 16.64 million tonnes of wheat, 23.08 million tonnes of corn, and 4.23 million tonnes of barley, 126,900 tonnes of flour, and 18,400 tonnes of rye.

Ukraine exported 56.72 million tonnes of grain and leguminous crops in the 2019-2020 marketing year.