Ukraine exported 4.1 million tons of agricultural products in April, representing a 23.4% decline compared to March, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB).

"The decline in exports follows typical seasonal trends. Most of the harvest has already been exported, with only insignificant quantities remaining," UCAB said.

Agriculture accounts for about 20% of Ukraine's GDP, making it a key pillar of the economy. According to Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval, the sector has suffered losses of about $80 billion since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.

UCAB data shows that exports fell in most agricultural categories in April, with the exception of vegetable oils, which saw a 6% increase compared to March.

Exports of cereals, which account for the largest share of the country's agricultural exports, fell by 33% month-on-month to 2.4 million tons. Corn accounts for 65% of cereal exports, followed by wheat with 32% and barley with 2%.

Oilseed exports fell slightly by 3% to 421,200 tons, with soybeans accounting for 78% of this category.

According to UCAB, the unusual growth in sunflower oil exports from Ukraine during this period is related to the distribution of production over a longer period of time this year.

Throughout the war, Moscow has been trying to block Ukraine's exports by controlling trade routes in the Black Sea and attempting to replace Ukrainian products globally with its own, including grain taken from occupied territories in some cases.

In October 2024, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal accused Russia of stealing millions of tons of Ukrainian grain from the occupied territories, saying that at least 180,000 tons had been stolen from Mariupol alone.

On April 25, Ukrainian security services detained a ship from Russia's "shadow fleet" suspected of transporting stolen Ukrainian grain from Crimea.

Following Russia's temporary blockade of the Black Sea, Ukraine established a new maritime trade route in 2023, restoring its agricultural exports. Agricultural products now account for 59% of the country's total exports.

In 2024, Ukraine's agricultural exports reached $24.5 billion, approaching the record $27.7 billion set in 2021. | BGNES