OREANDA-NEWS. October 03, 2013. Ukrainian agricultural exports to China increased in 4 times from the beginning of the year. By the end of the year it will grow even more through the export of corn.

In addition, next year, Ukraine plans to start exporting to China soybean and barley, and in the future wheat and canola. Thus, China will become one of the major buyers of Ukrainian grain products. This was started by Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Prysyazhnyuk.

"In 2012, trade turnover with China of production of agricultural sector amounted to 270 million dollars. During the first half of this year, we already have USD 380 million turnover. In this case, our exports increased in 4 times. However, in this balance we have not count the supplying of grain to the Chinese market, particularly corn. By year end, we have to deliver 2 million tons of corn, or to sell it to a third market," he said.

Mykola Prysyazhnyuk noted that during the September’s visit to China of the Ukrainian delegation a phytosanitary protocol on export of soybean and barley to the Chinese market was initialed. In addition, next year, Ukraine plans to coordinate the necessary documentation for the export of wheat and canola to China.

"China harvests a significant amount of grain, but it is not enough to meet the needs of the domestic market. And the needs are increasing. As soon China will compete for volume purchases of Ukrainian grain with the Middle East and the Gulf States and the European Union. And over time, the Chinese market will become for us the buyer number one of domestic grain," the Minister said.