Lithuania is ready to help Ukraine export unsold volumes of grain from last year’s harvest, Lithuanian Minister of Communications and Transport Marius Skuodis told reporters.
According to him, grain can be transported through Poland to the port of Klaipeda. Companies have already submitted proposals.
“We have been working with the Ukrainians for several weeks now, the most important thing is coordination with the railways. Several companies have already received specific proposals for transportation from the Ukrainian-Polish border to the port of Klaipeda,” Skuodis said.
At the same time, he noted that the main problem lies in the different width of the railway track of the Russian and European types.
“It is rather difficult to switch from Russian standard tracks to European ones in Poland, then to the Kaunas intermodal terminal and beyond. These are issues related to the availability of wagons and other things,” Skuodis said.
According to him, a trial train is already planned, which should leave in the coming weeks.
“The trial run is scheduled for April. We are ready for our part, we just need customers, and we can try in late April – early May, then we’ll see. Of course, the most direct route will be through Belarus, but this country is involved in certain military operations, therefore it would be impossible,” Skuodis said.
Grain export from Ukraine was disrupted due to Russia’s military actions on Ukrainian territory.
According to the head of the European Commission in Lithuania, Marius Vashchega, Ukraine occupies 10% of the world wheat market, 13% – barley, 15% – corn, more than 50% of the sunflower oil market.
Ukraine has abandoned the March 5 ban on the export of live cattle (UKTVED code 0102), frozen cattle meat (code 0202) and meat and edible meat by-products, salted or in brine, dried or smoked; edible flour from meat or meat by-products: cattle meat (code 021020).
According to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 422 of April 9, published on its website on Sunday night, licensing of the export of these goods was introduced instead of zero quotas.
Main trade partners of Ukraine in % from total volume (export from Ukraine to other countries) in 2021
SSC of Ukraine
Ukraine in March 2022 exported 5.97 million tons of goods worth $2.7 billion, which is 2.2 times less than in February in terms of quantity and half in value, while imports of goods to Ukraine in March amounted to 5 million tons $5.9 billion, which is more than three times less than in February. “Ukraine’s export volume in March amounted to 5.97 million tons worth $2.7 billion. While in February, the state exported 13.1 million tons of goods worth $5.3 billion. The main export items are ores, corn, ferroalloys and oil “, the Ministry of Economy said in a release on Sunday. The export of metals and agricultural products was particularly affected, however, the volume of exports of a number of goods with deep processing remained practically unchanged compared to the pre-war period, the Ministry of Economy added. The Ministry notes a significant reduction in metal exports. In particular, the export of flat products fell by almost 10 times – from 437 thousand tons in February to 47 thousand tons in March. “For some metallurgy positions, exports were not made at all. This is primarily due to the physical destruction of metallurgical facilities and the stoppage of production,” the ministry commented. In March, Ukraine exported 1.1 million tons of corn, 309 thousand tons of wheat, 118 thousand tons of sunflower oil, 40 thousand tons of soybeans. This is four times less than in February, according to the data of the Ministry of Economy. “At the same time, for many items of goods with deep processing, the volume of exports remained at the level of the previous month and even increased. These are, for example, cable products, the export of which amounted to $111 million ($130 million in February) or wood facing sheets – $32 million against $26 million in February,” the Economy Ministry said. Due to the Russian invasion, Ukrainian imports suffered significant losses: if in February the state imported 5 million tons of goods worth $5.9 billion, then in March – 1.6 million tons worth $1.8 billion, the report says. Currently, the most important imports to Ukraine are gas, oil, oil products and coal. “The enemy is deliberately undermining the economy of our state by blocking domestic exports. The traditional route for the export of export goods was the Black Sea ports, blocked today by Russia. In addition, the occupiers are attacking metallurgical enterprises and agricultural infrastructure in order to prevent the restoration of our capabilities in the future. All this threatens not only Ukraine, but also the whole world, because our state was the guarantor of food security in a number of countries in Africa and the Middle East,” the press service of the Ministry of the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko quotes. To counter this, Ukraine is increasing the capacity of rail, road and river transport on the western border of Ukraine, attracting manufacturers, traders, transport companies, Sviridenko noted. “The remnants of basic agricultural crops in Ukraine are enough to ensure exports. In addition, the start of the sowing campaign inspires restrained optimism for the future harvest,” the head of the ministry said.
Structure of export of services in Ukraine in 2021
SSC of Ukraine
European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson believes that the export of electricity from Ukraine has a positive effect on Poland, the Energy Ministry said.
“Kadri Simson stressed that Ukraine, after synchronization, is already becoming an important factor in the reliable operation of the European energy system. She noted that the auctions launched for the export of electricity from Ukraine to Poland had a very positive effect on the energy supply of the latter,” the ministry said in a statement following an online meeting with European Commissioner for Energy Minister German Galushchenko on Thursday.
According to the release, the parties also discussed issues of compliance with the nuclear safety of Ukraine and Europe in the context of the visit of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to Ukraine.
Galushchenko, referred to by the press service of the ministry, during the meeting noted that the head of the IAEA recognizes Ukraine’s significant potential in nuclear energy.
At the same time, the minister pointed out that the presence of Russian troops at nuclear facilities not only threatens nuclear safety, but can also cross out the prospects for the development of the Ukrainian nuclear industry.
In addition, the head of the Ministry of Energy once again emphasized that Ukraine can help European countries “jump off the hook” of Russian fossil fuels, in particular by providing its underground gas storage facilities and electricity supplies.
“Coordination of the position of Ukraine and Europe is very important for ensuring nuclear and energy security,” Galushchenko stressed.
As reported, NPC “Ukrenergo” on March 28 began holding auctions for access to interstate cross-sections for the export of electricity to Poland.
Prior to this, all import-export auctions were stopped due to the entry of the Ukrainian energy system into an isolated mode from February 24. The unification of the energy systems of Ukraine and Europe took place on March 16, after which work began on the resumption of the commercial exchange of electricity. Other destinations are not yet open.
Export to Poland starts from March 30th. All the capacity offered at daily auctions for March 30-April 2 was bought by DTEK group companies – D.Trading LLC 210 MW on March 30, DTEK Zakhidenergo JSC 210 MW on March 31 and 190 MW each on April 1 and 2.
According to the data on the ENTSO-E website, physical exports were carried out on March 30 at 210 MWh, except for the first three hours of the day, when deliveries were 70 MWh, 100 MWh and 200 MWh, on March 31 – at 210 MWh -h all day, and on April 1, deliveries of 190 MWh are planned all day, there are no data for April 2.
