By KYIV. Dec 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Despite the uncertainty with the grain corridor and the shelling of the energy infrastructure, exports from Ukraine in November increased by $25.8 million, or 0.7%, to $3.83 billion, while imports increased by $228 million, or 5% and reached $4.8 billion, said Deputy Minister of Economy – Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka.
"Changes (in exports) were up by $25.8 million and down by 93,000 tonnes, which is a slight change within 1 percentage point," he wrote on Facebook on Thursday.
Kachka specified that in tonnes, exports in November amounted to 9.12 million tonnes, including agricultural exports – 7.2 million tonnes, exceeding 7 million tonnes for the first time during the full-scale invasion. The trade representative noted that these figures are very close to pre-war January: then agricultural exports amounted to 7.8 million tonnes.
He pointed out that traditionally the export leaders are corn (2.5 million tonnes), wheat (1.76 million tonnes), ore (783,000 tonnes), rapeseed (529,000 tonnes), sunflower oil (483,000 tonnes), sunflower seeds (398,000 tonnes), and soybeans (384,000 tonnes).
"We exported 33% less firewood and pellets in November than in October – 76,000 tonnes, which means that there is no massive export, on the contrary, the domestic market is saturated, first of all," the deputy minister analyzed.
Speaking about imports, he noted that the main factors behind its growth were oil products, of which 672,000 tonnes were imported, which is 111,000 tonnes more than in October, and generators, for which Ukrainians spent $119 million, which is 2.5 times more than in October.
Speaking of geography, Kachka said that $2.63 billion of exports were sent to the EU. In imports, the EU is also a key supplier – $2.36 billion.
He added that imports from China continue to grow – $936 million, which is very close to the pre-war level.
The trade representative indicated that shipping by sea decreased by 471,000 tonnes (8.8%) and amounted to 4.8 million tonnes ($1.57 billion), while exports by rail increased by 353,000 tonnes (14.4%) and amounted to 2.8 million tonnes ($710 million).
