It is not possible to do without export supplies of Ukrainian agricultural products for other countries, especially the Middle East and Africa. And it is impossible to replace it for anything physically, including supplies from the aggressor country of the russian federation or from any other country. Taras Vysotskyi, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine stressed it. 

“We supplied 10% of world export of wheat, more than 15-20% of barley, more than 50% of sunflower oil. As an average number, 50 million tons of agricultural products were exported from Ukraine. In record years, this figure reached even 65 million tons. Today it is not possible to find an alternative to such volumes and replace our products. It is impossible to do it physically, even in the next 3-5 years”, - he stressed. According to him, due to the blockade of the ports of Odesa and Mykolayiv, we can export 15-20% of pre-war figures today. This has already led to significant increases in agricultural prices and physical shortages around the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.

“If the situation with the war and the blockade of ports lasts, for example, for six months, the countries of these regions, in principle, will not have grain. And this means hunger”,- Taras Vysotsky stated. He stressed that the Government is currently working to expand physical export through alternative routes. For example, in April it was exported 4 times more than in March. “It is not enough, but there is significant progress. And we see in May that there is an opportunity to increase exports. Therefore, there are two strategies: first of all, our victory and the release of ports, and secondly - the expansion of these alternative ways of selling products”, - he said. Besides, Taras Vysotskyi stressed that government officials are in dialogue with other countries to ensure that they stick to the embargo on agricultural supplies to russia.

Reference source: Ministry of agrarian policy and food of Ukraine