Ukraine's agricultural export grows by 15% in Oct compared to Sept - UCAB

MOSCOW. Nov 3 (Interfax) - Ukraine exported 4.8 million tonnes of agricultural products in October 2023, which is 15% more than in the previous month, Ukrainian media outlets reported, citing the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) on social networks.

The growth of export was achieved in October 2023 despite issues with routes via the Danube's river ports, such as traditional seasonal shallow waters hindering the navigation of large-tonnage vessels and a declining loading onto barges, the UCAB said.

"The addition of another export channel, the sea ports of the Odessa region, which currently operates as a temporary sea corridor, partially helped to increase export," it said.

However, the amount of export via this channel is very far from pre-February 2022 levels, it said.

According to the organization, 2.5 million tonnes of grain crops were exported in October, including 52% of wheat and 45% of corn, which shows an increase by 20% from the figures recorded in September. A total of 914,000 tonnes of oilseeds were exported to foreign markets, including 48% of rapeseed, 48% of soybeans, and 3% of sunflower seeds, with the growth of 4% from the previous month.

Additionally, export of vegetable oils grew by 6% and reached 508,700 tonnes, including 80% of sunflower oil, 14% of rapeseed oil and 6% of soybean oil, and export of oilcake grew by 18% reaching 491,500 tonnes, with sunflower oilcake making up 86% and soybean oilcake 14%.

Export of corn and soybeans, which are still being actively harvested, has increased compared to last month.

"Although an increase in exports has been observed, it is still insufficient for exporting the harvest which Ukraine gathered this year. Ukraine must export about six million tonnes of food products, preferably by sea routes with less expensive logistics, so that the agricultural market could operate relatively normally," the UCAB said.