IF OUR NEIGHBORS’ POSITION ON AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS DOES NOT CHANGE, THERE MAY BE PROBLEMS WITH WAREHOUSES IN OCTOBER-NOVEMBER – EXPERT

However, Ukrainian farmers are likely to cope with these challenges. This was stated by Pavlo Koval, general director of the Ukrainian agrarian confederation, at a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Odesa.

He said that Ukrainian farmers still have enough elevators, but sunflower harvesting is underway, and not all the early crops – rapeseed, barley, and winter wheat – have been exported.

“If Poland, Bulgaria, and Slovakia do not change their decision to ban imports of Ukrainian grain, we will still use transit through their territory. The Danube ports are working, rail and road transport are working. If there are no additional obstacles, the transit will take place through Polish ports. It will take longer, and therefore, in October and November, there may be problems with warehouses, because this year’s harvest is at the level of the previous year, or even more,” Pavlo Koval said.

However, in his opinion, Ukrainian farmers will overcome these difficulties, as there is experience from last year when temporary warehouses, polymer sleeves, etc. were used to store agricultural products.

He also added that if the problems associated with the ban on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products are not resolved, Ukrainian farmers, unlike Polish, Bulgarian, Romanian and Russian farmers, will not be able to take advantage of fluctuations in food prices on international markets. 

In addition, the expert noted that if the price of sunflower remains constant (at UAH 8 thousand per ton) and it becomes unprofitable, “it will be difficult to talk about the spring sowing campaign.”

IC UAC according to Media Center Ukraine