Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Kazakhstan would like to become supplier of wheat and oilseeds to Saudi Arabia – Tokayev

The agricultural sector of Kazakhstan has great potential and can become one of the long-term suppliers of high-quality wheat and oilseeds to Saudi Arabia, President of the Republic Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
“Kazakhstan ranks second in the world in terms of arable land per capita and fifth in terms of pasture resources (180 million hectares). Our country is one of the 10 largest producers of wheat and flour. We are ready to become one of the stable, long-term suppliers of high-quality wheat, flour and oilseeds to the kingdom,” Tokayev said, speaking at an investment round table with representatives of the business community of Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Jeddah.

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US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE REDUCES ESTIMATE OF WHEAT CROP IN UKRAINE THIS YEAR BY 2 MLN TONS

In the July report, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reduced the forecast for the harvest of Ukrainian wheat in 2022/2023 marketing year (MY, July-June) by 2 million tons compared to June, to 19.5 million tons, while the estimate of its exports is kept at the level of 10 million tons.
“Production in Ukraine is reduced by 2 million tons to 19.5 million due to a reduction in acreage, as indicated in the statistics provided by the government of the country,” the US Department of Agriculture said in a report released on Tuesday.
According to the document, the assessment of domestic wheat consumption in Ukraine was reduced by 1 million tons – from 11.2 million tons to 10.2 million tons, including for feed – from 6 to 5 million tons, follows from the USDA July report.
In addition, from 6.01 million tons to 5.24 million tons, the forecast for carryovers at the end of the current marketing year was reduced compared to 5.84 million tons at its beginning.
The US Department of Agriculture in the new forecast kept the forecast for corn exports from Ukraine in 2022/2023 MY at the level of 9 million tons, and its harvest – 25 million tons. At the same time, the forecast for its domestic consumption in Ukraine was also left at the same level of 10.7 million tons.
According to the report, in general, the forecast for the feed grain harvest in Ukraine for MY 2022/23 remains at 31.76 million tons, and its exports at 10.83 million tons.
As reported, Ukraine in the marketing year 2021/2022 (MY, July-June) exported 48.51 million tons of grain and leguminous crops, which is 8.4% higher than in the previous marketing year, despite the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation and difficulties with the export of agricultural products from -for the blockade of Ukrainian seaports.
In general, in MY 2021/2022, the country supplied to foreign markets 18.74 million tons of wheat (12.6% more compared to the same date in 2020/2021MY), 23.54 million tons of corn (+1.9%), 5 .75 million tons of barley (+35.9%), 70.9 thousand tons of flour (-44.1%).
The wheat harvest last year amounted to 33 million tons, feed grain – 53.5 million tons, including corn – 42.13 million tons.

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UKRAINE CANCELED LICENSING OF EXPORTS OF WHEAT AND FERTILIZERS

Wheat and its mixture with rye (meslin) are excluded from the list of goods whose export is subject to licensing, the Cabinet of Ministers made the corresponding decision at a meeting on Friday, Taras Melnychuk, a government representative in parliament, said.

“The commodity items “Oats” and “Mineral or chemical, nitrogen fertilizers” have been excluded from the volume of quotas of goods whose export is subject to licensing. These items are included in the List of goods whose export is subject to licensing,” he added in his telegram message.

As reported, on March 7, the Government of Ukraine expanded the list of goods the Ministry of Economy will issue export permits for: wheat, corn, poultry meat, chicken eggs and sunflower oil were included in the list of licensed exports.

Already in March, corn and sunflower oil were excluded from this list, but wheat remained, despite the requests of market participants.

As for oats, on March 5, a ban was introduced on its export in the form of a zero quota.

Nitrogen fertilizers were also banned for export at first, but at the end of March the government allowed their export within the quarterly quota of 210,000 tons, or 70,000 tons per month.

In June this year, Ukraine managed to increase grain exports by 23% by May – up to 1.4 million tons. In terms of crops, corn accounted for 86%, wheat – 10%, barley – 3%.

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CANCELLATION OF LICENSING OF WHEAT EXPORT FROM UKRAINE TO INCREASE PURCHASE PRICES FOR NEW CROP – GRAINTRADE

Licensing of wheat exports from Ukraine, introduced on March 6 amid Russian aggression, has created additional pressure on domestic wheat purchase prices, and the abolition of this state regulation will revive exports and stabilize prices for this exchange commodity.

This is how experts of the electronic grain exchange GrainTrade commented on the statement made recently by First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy Taras Vysotsky about the abolition of licensing for wheat exports in July, according to the website of the grain trading platform on Monday.

“Amid blocked ports, the purchase prices for grain in Ukraine fell sharply, but the introduction of licenses for the export of wheat further increased pressure on prices, which dropped to UAH 5,500-6,500/tonne with delivery to the mill… In anticipation of the harvesting of the new crop, agricultural producers have to vacate warehouse space, therefore, they are activating wheat sales, which increase pressure on prices. Therefore, the cancellation of licenses will revive exports and stabilize wheat prices,” GrainTrade said in a statement.

According to it, licensing complicates the export of wheat bran for processing enterprises, which are forced to spend additional funds on their storage or disposal, which also pushes down the price of wheat in Ukraine.

As reported, last week, Deputy Minister Vysotsky, at a meeting with representatives of the European Business Association, said that Ukraine planned to cancel the licensing of wheat exports in July and recalled active cooperation with Baltic and Polish partners to create alternative routes for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy is also working to continue the abolition of quotas and duties for the entire period of Ukraine’s candidacy for the EU, as well as the harmonization of legislation with the European one.

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MINISTRY OF AGRARIAN POLICY OF UKRAINE WORKING ON INDEFINITE ABOLITION OF QUOTAS, PLANS TO CANCEL LICENSES FOR WHEAT EXPORT

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine is working to extend the abolition of duties and quotas for the import of agricultural products to the EU countries for the entire period of its candidacy for the EU, as well as to harmonize Ukrainian legislation with the European one.
The integration prospects in the context of Ukraine obtaining the status of a candidate for EU membership were announced by First Deputy Minister Taras Vysotsky at a meeting with the European Business Association (EBA) on June 22, according to the EBA website on Friday.
According to the organization, in addition to the abolition of quotas and duties from the EU in early July, it is planned to cancel licenses for the export of Ukrainian wheat to the EU countries.
Also, in order to open alternative logistics routes, the ministry is negotiating with countries on the use of the Baltic and Polish corridors for the export of agricultural products.
“To support the dairy industry, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy is negotiating with the European Commission to provide grants of up to EUR 50 million to small farmers, and the possibility of submitting them to other international support programs is being considered,” EBA quotes Vysotsky.
The association noted that in the near future it is planned to separate queues for customs clearance of goods with perishable products at two checkpoints on the border with Poland – in Krakovets and Yahodyn.
As reported, on June 4, Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council No. 2022/870 on temporary trade liberalization measures, exempting Ukrainian exports from all duties and quotas for a year, came into force.

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MOLDOVA STOPPED EXPORT OF WHEAT, FLOUR AND SUGAR

The temporary suspension of exports of wheat, flour and sugar will ensure Moldova’s food security until the next harvest, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Viorel Gerciu said Thursday in parliament.
The minister did not predict the price of bread in autumn, but said that this year’s wheat harvest will be less than last year’s (900,000 tons instead of 1.7 million tons). But even this will be enough to cover domestic demand, which is estimated at 660,000 tons per year.
Referring to the supply of fertilizers in Moldova, disrupted due to hostilities in Ukraine, the minister said that the country consumes 270,000 tons of fertilizers annually. Until the end of February, the cost of this volume of fertilizers was estimated at $80 million, but now the price has risen to $220 million. “129,000 tons of fertilizers have already been imported to Moldova this year, which is enough to meet the needs of agricultural producers today,” Gerciu added.

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