Ukraine counts on the continuation of the duty-free and quota-free trade regime with the EU. And on the EU’s understanding and support in the current situation with our exports. This was emphasised by Mykola Solskyi, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, during a meeting of the EU Council on Agriculture and Fisheries (Agrifish) held on 26 March in Brussels.
“If we analyse the figures as of today, it turns out that we are discussing problems that are actually much smaller. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian agricultural sector has become the object of negative myths that have no economic basis, but are mainly the product of political conditions. What is most painful for us is that the discussion of these myths overshadows the most important goal – Ukraine’s ability to withstand and win the war with Russia,” said the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.
Mykola Solskyi noted that Ukraine’s grain exports to the EU have returned to the level of 2022. For almost a year, Ukraine has not been supplying wheat, sunflower, corn and rapeseed to neighbouring countries, and the vast majority of its agricultural exports are exported by sea.
According to the Minister, since the beginning of the year, out of 17 million tonnes of agricultural exports, about 12 million tonnes have gone through the ports of the greater Odesa area, almost 3 million tonnes have been shipped via the Danube, and only 2 million tonnes by land, mostly by rail, through neighbouring EU countries.
“We transit through Poland in a month as much as we export through Ukrainian seaports in one day. Now the cost of exports from Ukraine by sea is much more competitive than by land,” added Mykola Solsky.
He stressed that Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU markets do not have a negative impact, and in some cases play a role in stabilising the price balance.
In particular, the share of Ukrainian poultry and eggs in total EU consumption is less than 2% and 1% respectively. The price of sugar in the EU is still much higher than it was before the full-scale invasion. If Ukrainian sugar is removed from the market, the price in the EU will rise even higher.
The Minister of Agrarian Policy stressed that Ukraine seeks free trade with the EU on a competitive market basis.
“Any restrictions will only weaken Ukraine economically and directly distance the main goal – our common victory over Russia in this war,” Mykola Solsky said.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)