Invited to the meeting of the Council of agriculture ministers of the European Union, the Ukrainian minister of agriculture, Mykola Solskyi, presented new proposals to facilitate the country’s agricultural exports on Monday 26 September in Brussels.
At a press conference, the Ukrainian minister mentioned, among these actions, the construction of a pipeline to transport sunflower oil via Poland, increasing the truck fleet (from 12,000 to 16,000 vehicles), the creation of five new terminals at the border between Ukraine and the Union (Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland), which would facilitate the transport of 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of agricultural products.
“We have asked the EU to give us some stimulus”, he said, without specifying the financial support required or requested. Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said he would ask the Commission to “find funding lines for these projects”.
Mykola Solskyi estimated that the development of overland export routes could allow for the transport of up to 50 million additional tonnes of grain per year (20 million through strengthening the truck fleet and up to 30 million through the construction of new terminals). “Solidarity lanes must become permanent. Even when we win the war, Russia will remain our neighbour, and an unpredictable neighbour. Alternative routes through democratic countries are essential”, he said.
The Commissioner stressed to the Council that Ukraine’s exports are “picking up and approaching pre-war levels”. Through the Solidarity Lanes and Black Sea initiatives, more than 14 million tonnes (T) of grain, oilseeds and related products have been exported from Ukraine so far. “These exports are vital for Ukrainian farmers, who desperately need income to finance inputs for next year’s harvest. They are also essential for food security, in Ukraine and across the world”, the Commissioner said.
Mr Solskyi said that in August, exports reached 5.4 million T (3 million T went through the EU and 1.5 million T through the seaports opened thanks to the Istanbul agreement).
In September, there is expected to be an increase of 5-10% in Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU and the transport of these products via sea routes.
Inputs. Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski also reminded ministers that European farmers “are facing increasing uncertainty due to the soaring costs of inputs such as energy, feed and fertiliser. These rising costs are creating difficulties and influencing farmers’ decisions for the next planting season”.
Regarding fertilisers, the Commissioner said that the Commission’s proposal to suspend certain tariffs for imports of ammonia and urea until the end of 2024 is intended to further reduce pressure on the market.
“I urge the Council to approve this proposal quickly”, he said.
The Commission has indications that EU farmers ordered less fertiliser than usual this summer (between -20 and -50% depending on the source and the Member State).
The bulk of application is only scheduled for late winter and next spring “and there is still time to place orders, but we need to remain attentive to market developments”, Mr Wojciechowski explained.
In the medium to long term, “we will accelerate the transition to more sustainable fertilisation practices through the national strategic plans” implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), he concluded. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)