Top 10 grain importers from Ukraine in 2021: research
In the last decade (2010-20), Ukraine significantly increased its grains exports to foreign markets. Grains shipment in 2021 totalled 50.8 mln t, 3.7x up on 2010, although, this indicator is 10% below the record year 2019, the National Scientific Center Institute of Agrarian Economics research data shows.
Grains export revenue in the calendar year 2021 summed USD 12.3 bln, says Bohdan Dukhnytskyi, PhD in economics, senior research associate of the Agricultural Production Economy and International Integration Department of the Institute. He marks the increase in all key commodity groups supply.
Corn exports reached 24.7 mln t, 12% down YoY (2020: 27.9 mln t), but 6x as much as in 2010. The volume of wheat exports from Ukraine was 20.1 mln t, 11% up YoY and over 4x more than in 2010.
Learn more: TOP 14 Wheat Exporters From Ukraine in 10M 2021
Supplies of barley to foreign markets in 2021 rose by 0.6 mln t as compared to the previous year and were close to 5.7 mln t. After a significant decline, exports of rye increased by 28x and reached 137,000 t.
Same as in the previous seasons, countries of Asia, Africa and the EU are the key importers of grain from Ukraine in 2021.
"2021 was marked by a further strengthening of China's position, which in 2020 for the first time headed the top 10 importers of Ukrainian grain, having purchased close to 1/5 of the total volume of grain exports. In four years (2018-2022), this country increased grain purchases from Ukraine by more than 5x to USD 2.55 bln. China's share in total Ukraine's grain exports increased from 19.7% in 2020 to 20.7% last year," observes Bohdan Dukhnytskyi.
Egypt, which traditionally ranked first among the largest importers of Ukrainian grains in 2011-18, remains the second-largest buyer. In 2020, grains purchased were worth USD 1.12 bln, whereas in 2021 — USD. 1.386 bln. However, the country's share in total exports of grains decreased from 11.9% to 11.2%.
Turkey, which ranked 6th in the top 10, moved to the third position having increased its purchases of Ukrainian grains to USD 918 mln.
In 2021, Iran and Pakistan ousted South Korea and Bangladesh from the top 10 importers.
Top 10 Ukrainian grains importing countries in 2021:
- China USD 2.552 bln
- Egypt USD 1.386 bln
- Turkey USD 918 mln
- Indonesia USD 750 mln
- Spain USD 645 mln
- Netherlands USD 552 mln
- Iran USD 533 mln
- Pakistan USD 355 mln
- Libya USD 342 mln
- Tunisia USD 306 mln
Grain export from Ukraine as of February 2 totalled 38.6 mln t, 31.6% up YoY.