During the first two months of 2020, agri-food products were exported by Ukraine for $ 3.7 billion. This figure is 8% higher than the level of exports in the same period last year.
According to the UCAB press service, agricultural imports increased 16% over the same period to $ 1.1 billion. Overall, the foreign trade balance of agri-food products amounted to $ 2.6 billion. According to experts, it proves that Ukraine is a net exporter of these products.
In the structure of Ukraine’s trade, agriculture exports of agricultural products occupy an important share. Thus, in January-February 2020, the share of agri-food products in the structure of total exports was 46%, while the share of imports was only 12%.
Considering the commodity structure of exports, the largest increase was observed in deliveries of Ukrainian oil – by 31% or $ 229 million. Exports also increased in the following positions: Sunflower oil – $ 179 million (+ 26%), rapeseed oil – $ 25 million (23 times), soybean oil – $ 17 million (+ 66%).
In addition, exports of finished goods have increased by $ 32 million (+ 16%) and cigarettes by $ 13 million (+ 38%).
On the other hand, there is no such rapid growth in crop production: the export of crop production has increased by only 1%. Exports of maize increased the most by $ 167 million and barley by $ 79 million. At the same time, the share of crop production in the total export structure of Ukrainian agricultural products is 54%.