Page 27 - UKRRptDec21

5.2.1 Import/export dynamics
Ukraine’s food exports were up 17% y/y for the first nine months of this year, reports the National Institute of Agrarian Economics, citing numbers from the State Statistics Service. Exports through September totalled $18.2mn – up $2.6bn over the same period last year.
For the first time, China was the top source of new imports. The new car lineup was: China - 18,144; Japan – 17,338; and Romania - 8,371. For used cars, the top three nations exporting to Ukraine were: Germany - 98,44; US - 59,062; and Poland – 38,061.
Exports of Ukrainian goods and services to the EU grew by almost 48% in three quarters of this year compared to the same period in 2020. The corresponding growth in imports is 26.8%, reported the press service of the Ministry of Economy. Exports from Ukraine amounted to 16 million tons since the beginning of the year, 3.7 million tons (29%) more than last year.
New FTA agreements will boost Ukrainian exports. The agreements between Ukraine, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia are expected to be signed, announced the First Deputy of Prime Minister, Yulia Svyridenko. In total, these three free trade zones will increase Ukraine's real GDP by more than 0.4% annually. Ukraine is currently on the verge of formal FTA negotiations with Tunisia and Jordan. In addition to these negotiations, a Ukrainian-Egyptian intergovernmental commission will be held in December.
Food exports to China are up 36% for the period, hitting nearly $3bn. Asia took half of Ukraine’s food exports. Next was the EU, taking 30%, followed by Africa, taking 13%.
Ukraine’s exports of oil and oilseeds are up strongly through September. Oilseeds are up 36% yoy, to $1.4 billion, reports the Agrarian Economics Institute. Three quarters are rapeseed, largely going to EU nations for canola cooking oil. Exports of oils are up 18%, to $4.7 billion. Sunflower oil accounts for 91% of these exports.
Ukraine exported 21,753 thousand tons of grain crops as of November 15th, 3,018 thousand tons more than in the same period last marketing year. Grains supplied to foreign markets were: 13,194 thousand tons of wheat, 4,763 thousand tons of barley, 71.8 thousand tons of rye, and 3,608 thousand tons of corn.
Bolstered by a 30% jump in this year’s wheat crop, to 33mn tons, Ukraine expects to export a record 24mn tons this year, reports SP Global Platts. With this flow, Ukraine will account for 12% of world trade in wheat, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Over the last two weeks, Ukraine’s wheat export prices rose 7% after Russia raised taxes on wheat exports. With 87% of the grain harvest in, Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry predicts a 24% y/y increase in the national grain harvest to a record 80mn tons.
This record harvest is expected to account for .8% of GDP growth this year, the National Bank of Ukraine calculates. This would mean that the
27 UKRAINE Country Report December 2021 www.intellinews.com