Ukrainian meat export increased by 1.6 times
This year domestic meat products export increased by almost 60%. Thus, the most significant increase is observed in poultry. It is over 80% and due to the opening of the EU market. The State will continue support programs to increase animal production presence at the foreign markets and its performance. It was announced by Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food.
«This year we managed to reduce meat import by nearly 24%. At the same time we increased meat export by almost 60%. The prerequisites were opening of new markets, increase of livestock production and livestock. Therefore, the Government will continue its support programs. One of the major achievements of 2013 is the export of poultry products to the EU.
The deliveries of this group of products to foreign markets have the most significant increase this year. It is more than 80%,» siad Mykola Prysyazhnyuk. Moreover, there is a gradual export increase of fresh and frozen beef. For 10 months of 2013, it has increased by an average of 40%.
It should be emphasized that the Cabinet of Ministers supported the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to reduce tariffs on export of live cattle from 25% to 5%. According to the Minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, the adoption of these changes will increase the interest in the beef production and its exports. The biggest buyers of domestic poultry are CIS countries, Iraq, Turkey, Georgia, Jordan, Libya.
The largest beef importers are Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan , Turkmenistan, Moldova. Pork is exported mostly to Russia. «Ukraine has its export market for meat products. But every year it increases its production. And after securing domestic needs, it can export extra meat products. The government pays much attention to the importance of new market expansions. Both producers and the State will have benefits. Currently, the Ministry is working to increase the presence of Ukrainian meat production at the EU market. It is holding the harmonization of sanitary and phytosanitary requirements. Our goal is to eliminate any barriers to trade», said the Minister.