Nearly 60% Ukraine’s agricultural exports now head to Europe
Pravda Ukraine
The geography of Ukraine’s exports has changed dramatically since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. In 2021, Europe accounted for only 21% of Ukraine’s agricultural exports, while in the 10 months of 2023, it accounted for 59%.
Source: Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), a business association representing leading Ukrainian agricultural companies
Details: UCAB said that the growth of the European share of Ukrainian agricultural exports was forced, with exports to other parts of the world undercut by the Russian invasion. Exports to Africa have dropped from 14% to 7%, to Asia from 19% to 12% and to Southeast Asia from 13% to 4%.
Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian seaports is the major reason behind these changes. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, around 7 million tonnes of grain could be exported via those ports every month. Meanwhile, only 3.7 million tonnes can be exported per month via the currently available alternative routes.
“Developing alternative routes––which was only possible with the EU countries––has caused the changes. Ukrainian agricultural businesses were forced to look for buyers for their goods in European countries,” UCAB said.
The creation of the grain corridor as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative mediated by Türkiye and the UN [which Russia unilaterally withdrew from this summer – ed.], and the current temporary grain corridor made possible exports to countries in Africa and Asia.
The only way to resume Ukrainian agricultural exports to markets they have traditionally targeted is to ensure the security of naval transport routes and grow naval shipments, UCAB stressed.
Background:
- The humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea, which Ukraine launched after Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Agreement, has seen 100 ships leave Ukrainian ports.
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