Ukraine allows export of 20,000 tonnes of sugar to Romania

MOSCOW. July 7 (Interfax) - Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved the resumption of sugar exports to Romania and set a quota for the supply of the product of 20,000 tons until September 15.

As reported by Ukrainian media, citing a Telegram message from Verkhovna Rada representative Taras Melnichuk, the decision was made at a government meeting on Friday as part of changes to quotas for goods whose export is subject to licensing in 2023, as approved by a government decree dated December 27, 2022.

The consideration of applications for licenses will take place in the manner established by the Ministry of Economy, and the issuance of licenses will be based on applications for licenses for the export of these goods to Romania, and based on approvals from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine. Permits will be granted within one day.

The Government of Ukraine previously banned the export of sugar for the period of June 5 through September 15 in order to avoid a shortage on the domestic market in the summer-autumn period. Information about this is available on the website of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.

"In summer, there is an increase in the consumption of sugar in Ukraine. Therefore, in order to avoid shortages and rising prices on the domestic market during this period, the government temporarily stops offering this product for export," the Ministry of Economy said, explaining the reasons for the ban.

According to the State Customs Service of Ukraine, at the end of May, the country exported more than 350,000 tonnes of sugar and sugar products, which is 95% of the export forecast for the 2022/2023 agricultural year (August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023).

The supply of sugar on the Ukrainian domestic market in the 2022/2023 agricultural year, taking into account production of 1.285 million tonnes and transitional residues, according to expert estimates, is 1.776 million tonnes, the Ministry of Economy said. To meet the needs of the domestic market in the 2022/2023 agricultural year, Ukraine needs 1.01 million tonnes. Export of sugar in the same period is expected to reach nearly 370,000 tonnes.