Ukrainian agricultural exports to EU grew by 8.7% last year - Agrarian Policy Ministry

"According to the results of 2018, the foreign trade turnover of agricultural products between Ukraine and the EU countries increased by 11.4% compared to 2017 and reached more than USD 9 billion, including USD 6.3 billion of Ukrainian agricultural exports," Deputy Agrarian Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine Olha Trofimtseva said, the Ministry’s press service reported.

Ukrainian exports of agricultural products to the EU countries continue to demonstrate annual growth: in 2016 it was slightly more than USD 4 billion, in 2017 - USD 5.8 billion, and in 2018 it exceeds USD 6.3 billion. This dynamics proves success of a free trade agreement between Ukraine and the European Union in the agricultural sector. This gives us reason to say that Ukrainian producers are competitive in the markets of European countries and can successfully export their products in accordance with the highest standards of safety and quality, the deputy minister stressed.

According to Trofimtseva, the key export items supplied to the European Union’s markets are grain (USD 2.2 billion), oilseeds (USD 1.1 billion) and oil (USD 1.1 billion).

Moreover, the deputy minister stressed that the top five trade partners of Ukraine in the EU included the Netherlands with a share of USD 1.2 billion, Spain — USD 1.04 billion, Italy – USD 737.9 million, Germany – USD 667.4 million, and Poland – USD 656.7 million.