Ukraine becomes Europe's top carrot producer

20.01.2012 13:50

Ukrinform

KYIV, January 20 /UKRINFORM/. Ukraine in 2011 became the largest producer of carrot in Europe for the first time, and is ahead of the traditional leader - Poland, despite the increase in the production of carrot in this country. Furthermore, Ukraine also took the lead over the UK - the second largest carrot producer in Europe. Thus, now only four countries in the world produce more carrot than Ukraine - China, the USA, Russia and Uzbekistan.

"Becoming the Europe's leader in terms of carrot production, Ukraine, as before, is not ready to export significant volumes because of the shortcomings in the technologies of cultivation, storage, and especially the completion of production. That is why this season carrot prices are so low, for the slightest excess of production over the needs of the domestic market leads to the impossibility of product sale and, consequently, to a sharp slump in prices. However, we are already developing export opportunities of carrot and have requests from the Middle East on its trial shipments," project manager Tetiana Hetman commented.

This season, wholesale prices for carrot in Ukraine on average are three times lower than last year, and this difference will continue to increase, if significant amounts will not be exported. Ukraine could export 60,000-80,000 tons of carrot this season, but the export forecast is much lower, experts say.

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