Agri produce imports to Ukraine up 17 pct in 2018

The State Statistics Service of Ukraine data shows that in 2018 Ukraine imported agricultural products for the amount of USD 5.5 billion, which is 17.4 pct more than in 2017 (USD 4.6 billion), the National Scientific Center Institute of Agrarian Economics reports.

Nikolai Pugachev, the deputy director of the National Scientific Center Institute of Agrarian Economics, NAAS corresponding member, informs that as before the EU countries occupy leading positions in the supply of agricultural products to Ukraine. The cost of supplies increased from USD 2.2 billion in 2017 to USD 2.6 billion in 2018. The share of EU countries amounted to about half of domestic — 49.3%.

Main volumes of agricultural products were imported from Poland (USD 556 million). Supplies to Ukraine were also made by Germany (USD 493 million), Turkey (USD 382 million), Italy (USD 277 million), USA and France (USD 242 million each), the Netherlands (USD 211 million), Norway (USD 166 million), Indonesia (USD 161 million), China (USD 159 million).

The following groups of products are traditionally imported to Ukraine:

• fish, crustaceans, molluscs (USD 550 million);
  
• fruit and nuts (USD 526 million provided by exotic fruits);
  
• alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (USD 488 million, the larger share presented by ethyl alcohol, wine and beer);
  
• tobacco (USD 418 million);
  
• various food products (USD 407 million);
  
• oilseeds (USD 341 million, mostly sunflower);
  
• cocoa products (USD 307 million).

As previously reported, in January-September 2017 the turnover of agricultural products between Ukraine and the European Union amounted to USD 5.8 billion, which is 31.2 pct more than in 2016.

The new infographic guide Agribusiness of Ukraine 2017/18 is available by the link.