November 16, 2010

Ukraine to export US$1.64 million tonnes grain annually

Ukraine intends to obtain from the EU a grain export quota of 1.2 million tonnes annually, said Ukraine's Agrarian Policy Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk.

"The World Bank has calculated that we have the right to export without quotas 1.2 million tonnes of grain to the EU. We have voiced this position. And the Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht reiterated that the next rounds of talks will be aimed at rapprochement of our positions of principle," the minister said.

He also noted that today the EU, within the framework of negotiations on a free-trade zone with Ukraine, proposes a quota on exports to the EU of only 200 thousand tonnes of grain a year.

"But after today's meeting, I realised that we can find understanding and increase the quota on the delivery of cereals to the EU," the minister said.