The Russian market accounts for only 2% of the total structure of Ukrainian agricultural exports.
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This was announced by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Alexey Pavlenko, who was quoted by the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.
As Pavlenko noted, Ukraine has brought the volume of food trade with Russia to a historical minimum.
In particular, if in the first half of 2014 the share of the Russian Federation in the geographical structure of Ukrainian food exports was almost 8%, then this year its share has decreased to 2%. In absolute terms, exports to this country decreased by 80% and amounted to $125 million. At the same time, total exports for the specified period in 2015 amounted to $6,5 billion. In addition, during 2010-2014, the volume of food trade with the Russian Federation decreased by 40%.
“The strategic importance of the Russian market for Ukraine is a Soviet atavism. Through unpredictability, artificial restrictions, meat and dairy trade wars, and a blockade of our confectionery products, Ukrainian producers have long begun to focus on the European, Asian, African and American markets. Successful diversification made it possible to significantly compensate for the lost benefits from exports to Russia,” Pavlenko emphasized.
At the same time, Alexey Pavlenko recalled that from January 1, 2016, Ukraine begins to live in conditions of a full-fledged economic association and free trade zone with the EU.