Page 37 - UKRRptFeb21

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China nearly tripled its purchases of Ukrainian corn last fall, to 3.6mn tons,​ according to APK-Inform. Compared to the same October-December period, the EU cuts its purchases by 39%, to 2.7mn. Egypt was the third largest importer of Ukrainian corn, 900,000 tons, down 19% y/y. Overall, China bought 40% of Ukraine’s corn shipments last fall.
China far outstripped Russia last year as Ukraine’s largest single nation trading partner​, racking up $15.4bn in two-way trade, more than double’s Russia’s $7.3bn. Globally, Ukraine’s exports of goods were down only 1.7% y/y, to $9.2bn, reports the State Customs Service. Ukraine’s imports of good were down 10.3%, to $54.2bn. Two-way trade in good totalled $103.4bn, a drop of 6%. Trade in services is not included.
Vietnam nearly doubled its imports of grain from Ukraine last year, ​Taras Kachka, Ukraine's deputy minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, writes on Facebook. With two-way trade expected to hit $1bn this year, Kachka writes: “We have agreed to resume work on the FTA agreement with Vietnam.” Kachka and Vietnam’s Ambassador to Ukraine also agreed to establish Vietnam House in Kyiv and a Ukraine House in Hanoi.
Ukraine imported a record amount of wine last year -- $180mn. ​Top supplying countries are: Italy - $29mn; France - $27.5mn; and Georgia - $26mn. Over the last decade, Ukraine’s wine production dropped in half, partly due to the loss of Crimea, partly to due to red tape blocking small producers, and partly due to imports. EU exports to Ukraine are expected to increase this year after duties dropped to zero on Jan. 1.
Ukraine cut its coal import bill last year by 40% y/y, to $1.7bn, ​reports, the State Customs Service. Ukraine cut its volume of imported coal by 22%, to 17mn tons. In dollar terms, the top three suppliers were: Russia - $1bn, or 62% of the total; US - $480mn, 28%; and Kazakhstan -- $126mn, or 7.5%.
Ukraine’ pig iron exports increased by 20% y/y last year to 3.1mn metric tons​, reported Steelorbis news site. In value terms, exports rose 15% to $992mn. The biggest buyers were: US – 58.5%; China -22%; and Turkey - 6%.
Russia became one of the three main trade partners of Ukraine in 2020, Ukraine’s State Customs Service announced on January 12.
"The countries Ukraine imported most of the goods from are: China - $8.3 bln, Germany - $5.1 bln and Russia - $4.6 bln. The countries that exported most from Ukraine are China - $7.1 bln, Poland - $3.3 bln, Russia - $2.7 bln," the service said on Facebook.
According to the customs service, grains, ferrous metals, fats and oils of animal or vegetable origin formed the bulk of Ukraine's exports. Ukraine first of all imported mineral fuel, oil and products of its processing, machinery, equipment and mechanical devices and land transport.
In general, according to the customs service, in 2020, imports of goods to Ukraine decreased by 10.3% to $54.2 billion, exports of goods fell by 1.7% to $49.2 bln.
37​ UKRAINE Country Report​ February 2021 ​ ​www.intellinews.com