From the second half of 2022, Germany is facing a shortage of mustard due to a lack of mustard seeds for its production, the shortage is caused by Russian aggression in Ukraine, since these two countries provide a total of 80% of German imports of this agricultural raw material.
This opinion was expressed by Markus Weck, CEO of the German food industry association Kulinaria Germany, for the German edition Die Welt.
“There is already a shortage of raw materials for mustard. And in the coming weeks and months, the shortage will increase – up to complete supply disruptions. The shocks caused by the coronavirus pandemic are practically nothing compared to what is happening in the markets right now,” the publication quotes the Kulinaria CEO.
According to him, 80% of mustard seeds come to Germany from Ukraine and Russia, and its shortage is already forcing German mustard producers to reduce its production and raise prices for their products. Weck clarified that the prospects for the German mustard market remain uncertain until the end of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Sowing should take place in the next two weeks. However, this is unlikely in Ukraine, given the current situation. But this means that an important supplier of raw materials for mustard producers is lost in the summer. And whether Russia will then export goods is also unknown,” the expert explained.
The Kulinaria CEO stressed that German mustard producers will have enough stocks of raw materials for a period of several weeks to several months.
Mustard consumption in Germany is one of the highest in the world and is used to prepare a large number of German traditional dishes.
All federal states of Germany will provide quick assistance to Ukrainians who are fleeing the war, and its procedure will be simple, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
“Overcoming this challenge is the common task of our entire state,” he tweeted on Wednesday evening.
Scholz thanked the many volunteers whose “tireless efforts allow us to help people fleeing the terrible war in Ukraine.”
The German chancellor also said that it is completely unacceptable when immigrants from Russia are insulted or even subjected to physical attack.
“Because this is Putin’s war. He, and only he, is responsible for this,” Scholz stressed.
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Germany and Hungary have introduced permit-free travel for humanitarian cargo carriers to Ukraine, according to the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.
The matter concerns the release of carriers from any additional conditions, in particular the need to obtain permits for international freight traffic. This is necessary for the prompt delivery of humanitarian cargo during martial law.
To cross the border with Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia, you do not need to submit information about the carrier and vehicle.
“We thank our European partners for their support. The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine continues to work with foreign partners in order to speed up the process of transporting humanitarian cargo in an extremely difficult period for Ukraine,” the ministry stressed.
CARRIERS, GERMANY, HUMANITARIAN AID, HUNGARY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND, SLOVAKIA, TRAVEL
The German Foreign Ministry issued an updated information bulletin on Saturday, which urges citizens not to visit Ukraine unnecessarily.
“It is recommended to refrain from trips to Ukraine. German nationals are urgently requested to leave the country now,” the document says.
It is noted that “tension between Russia and Ukraine” due to the massive presence of Russian military forces near the Ukrainian border “is growing again.”
“A military confrontation is possible at any time,” the bulletin says.
Germany has confirmed its intention to provide financial assistance for green energy initiatives in Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
“The German Chancellor confirmed Germany’s intention to fill with specifics and financial assistance initiatives for green transformation, decarbonization and development of renewable energy in Ukraine. Our state is ready to offer great prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of green energy,” he said at a joint briefing with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Kyiv on Monday.
Germany is stepping up measures to ensure the safety of its employees in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Saturday, February 12. “I have decided to strengthen the measures already taken to prevent the crisis. At the moment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is holding a meeting with the relevant departments and security agencies to implement these decisions,” the press service of the German Foreign Ministry cited Baerbock’s words on Twitter.
