By KYIV. Oct 24 (Interfax-Ukraine) – During the operation of the temporary sea corridor, Ukraine exported about 700,000 tonnes of grain mainly to Europe and Africa, Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solsky said at a meeting of the EU Council on Agriculture and Fisheries in Luxembourg.
“In August, we opened a temporary corridor along the Black Sea. It works thanks to the support of our Armed Forces and the trust of international partners. During the operation of the new corridor, 38 ships entered the ports, more than 30 left, of course, not all of them with grain. However, we were able to export about 700,000 tonnes of grain. Most of our products are now exported along the Danube through Romania. And we are sincerely grateful to our Romanian colleagues for their understanding, support and cooperation,” he said.
He also said that in September about 2.3 million tonnes of agricultural products were exported through the Danube ports. In August, this figure was slightly higher – 2.4 million tonnes. Total product exports in September amounted to 3.6 million tonnes. Solsky emphasized that such volumes are not enough to export all agricultural products intended for export.
“We must export about 6 million tonnes per month in order to preserve our agriculture as a key sector of the economy. Such a volume of transportation can only be ensured by restoring the full operation of the deep-water ports of Odesa. We see a trend towards an increase in the number of ships leaving our ports. We hope that it will continue,” the Minister of Agricultural Policy emphasized.
Solsky also noted that the restrictions imposed by the European Commission on certain types of Ukrainian agricultural products did not affect the stabilization of prices, as some border countries expected. Prices continue to decline.
“This is influenced by many factors, in particular, high harvests in Brazil and Australia. Obviously, it is not Ukrainian grain that plays the key role in lowering prices,” Solsky emphasized.
The minister recalled that in order to ensure uninterrupted exports, Ukraine has developed a mechanism for licensing certain types of agricultural products, the export of which has raised the most questions. The procedure provides for the issuance of a license from the Ukrainian government within 30 days from the date of receipt of the export application.
