Ukraine to face increased competition in most commodity markets - expert

Ukraine will have to protect and expand its positions in the grain markets of Asia and Africa, as well as compete with Russian sunflower oil in the markets of India and China, Director General of UkrAgroConsult Sergey Feofilov has said.

"This year will not be the easiest one. It is quite expected that competition in many markets for Ukrainian goods will be intensified. It will be necessary to protect and expand the positions occupied by Ukrainian grain in the markets of Asia and Africa, as well as to compete with Russian sunflower oil in the markets of India and China. Solving these tasks is based on the stable growth of agricultural production in Ukraine," Feofilov said.

Analyzing the results of 2019, the expert first noted an increase in export earnings.

"In the first three quarters of 2019 alone, exports of three major grain crops (wheat, barley, maize) brought $6.8 billion in foreign currency to Ukraine, which is 43% more than in the same period of the previous year. Ukraine last year increased shipment of wheat to the markets of Asia and Africa, as well as maize to Europe and China, and set a new record for sunflower oil exports," the expert said.

Ukraine exported 27.36 million tonnes of grain and leguminous crops between July 1 and December 13, 2019, which was 32.9% more than during the same period of 2018.

op