Ukrainian exports decreased by a third
In April 2023, Ukraine managed to export 5.3 million tons of agricultural products, which is 31% less than the previous month. This is the worst indicator in the last 8 months. Thus, we could observe a drop in export volumes in all groups of agricultural products, except for vegetable oils. The largest drop in volumes fell on the export of oilseeds.
As for the structure of product exports in April 2023, it looked as follows:
Grain crops — 3.9 million tons (corn — 59%, wheat — 36%, barley — 5%), a decrease compared to last month: -31%;
Oil crops — 216.6 thousand tons (soybeans — 77%, sunflower seeds — 18% and rapeseed — 4%), drop: -68%;
Vegetable oils — 564.2 thousand tons (sunflower oil — 96%, soybean oil — 4%), growth: 1%;
Meals — 262.5 thousand tons (sunflower — 89%, soybean — 11%), drop: -42%.
Problems with export shipments appeared in almost all channels.
The main reasons are:
- sabotage of the operation of the grain corridor by the Russian side;
- ban on the import of all agricultural products and the temporary ban on transit through Poland;
- ban on the import of certain types of agricultural products by Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia.
Resolving the issue of supplies to neighbouring friendly countries gives reason to hope that next month indicators will be better.