Ukraine since the beginning of the marketing year 2019/2020 (MY, July-June) and as of April 15, 2020 had exported 48.14 million tonnes of grain and legumes, which is 8.45 million tonnes more than on the same date past MY.
According to the information and analytical portal of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine, to date, the country has exported 18.35 million tonnes of wheat, 24.6 million tonnes of corn, and 4.52 million tonnes of barley.
As of April 15 of this year, some 285,920 tonnes of flour had been also exported.
As reported, Ukraine in the 2018/2019 MY exported a record 50.4 million tonnes of grain, legumes and flour, which is 23% more than in the previous MY.
Structure of export of services from Ukraine in 2019 (graphically)
The Cabinet of Ministers has imposed a ban on export of buckwheat until July 1.
During a meeting on April 2, the government approved respective order amending supplement 1 to instruction No. 1109 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated December 24, 2019.
“Thus, the resolution introduces a temporary licensing and quotas for buckwheat and peeled buckwheat grain (no bran covering) export until July 1, 2020,” the Economy Ministry said in a statement on Thursday evening, April 2.
In particular, a zero quota volume was established for the goods (according to foreign economic activity codes 1008 10 00 00 and 1104 29 17 00).
The relevant amendments, according to the Economy Ministry, were made in supplement 1 to instruction No. 1109 on the quota volumes of export of goods which is subject to licensing in 2020.
According to the ministry, the ban on buckwheat export is a temporary measure necessary to protect the domestic market. The Economy Ministry said that Belarus, the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan have temporarily closed their borders for buckwheat export.
“To date the situation in the Ukrainian market is stable. The government is in dialogue with manufacturers and retailers all the time. Ukraine will negotiate with the main producing countries to lift bans in order to maintain international food security and restore normal international trade conditions,” the ministry said.
The ministry also urges Ukrainian agricultural enterprises to increase the area sown with buckwheat.
Ukraine in January-February 2020 increased its electricity exports by 33.7% or 362.5 million kWh year-over-year, to 1.438 billion kWh, the Energy and Environmental Protection Ministry of Ukraine has told Interfax-Ukraine. Electricity supplies from the Burshtyn TPP energy island to Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania rose by 56.6%, to 1.049 billion kWh.
Exports to Poland grew by 17.6%, to 299.9 million kWh.
Exports to Moldova fell by 41%, to 88.6 million kWh.
Ukrainian electricity was not exported to Belarus or Russia in 2018 or 2019.
Ukraine imported 1.112 billion kWh of electricity in January-February 2020, including 599.5 million kWh from Slovakia, 274.7 million kWh from Hungary, 141.9 million kWh from Belarus, 51.9 million kWh from the Russian Federation, and 43.4 million kWh from Romania.
Due to crossflows related to the parallel work of the united energy system in Ukraine and systems in bordering countries (accounted for under contracts signed by Energomarket), Ukraine imported 8.1 million kWh of energy from Russia and 100,000 kWh from Belarus.
The Cabinet of Ministers does not plan to introduce limits for export of agricultural products from Ukraine, Deputy Minister for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine Taras Vysotsky has said.
“We constantly communicate with representatives of retail chains. Today, we held a meeting. Now, there are more than enough stocks. That is why the government does not plan to limit the export of agricultural products in any way,” he told Interfax-Ukraine.
As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address on Monday, March 16, proposed that the Cabinet of Ministers limits the export of food products from the country according to a list defined by the government.
Ukrspyrt has suspended shipment of alcohol for export due to the increased demand for medical alcohol in Ukraine because of the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, the company has said.
“We have taken the state’s position, first of all, to take care of Ukrainians. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are seeing an increased demand for medical alcohol not only domestically but also externally. Therefore, we decided to suspend export of alcohol. First we need to fully provide the Ukrainian market. We consider it is unacceptable if medical institutions turn to us with a request to sell alcohol, but we don’t have it. Therefore, we take care of the needs of our medical sector,” Ukrspyrt acting head Serhiy Bleskun said.
The company indicated that exports would be restored after the domestic market of Ukraine is fully provided.
As reported, Ukrspyrt in 2019 increased its net profit by 1.9 times compared to 2018, to UAH 40.3 million. Alcohol production fell by 5%, to 5.9 million decaliters.
State-owned enterprise Ukrspyrt is a large producer of alcohol and alcohol containing products in Ukraine. It is managed by the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture. Its total production capacity is more than 36 million deciliters per year. The work is provided by 41 production sites, while in March 2020 only ten are operating.
Now the company is being prepared for transfer to the State Property Fund for privatization
