In 2017, Ukraine demonstrated one of the highest export figures in the history of independence - USD 17.8 bln. Prior to this, the highest exports were recorded in 2012 - USD 17.9 bln.

The structure of agrarian exports has not changed in five years. 57% of all agro-food supplies from Ukraine account for the top 3 positions: sunflower oil, maize and wheat, which together provide about USD 10 bln.

The list of top 10 major export commodities during this period also remained almost unchanged, with only a few exceptions: the share of chocolate and cheese decreased - and in 2017 they were no longer among top 10 main export Ukrainian goods due to a sharp decline in trade with Russia. Chocolate exports decreased by USD 481 mln or 76%, and cheese exports - by USD 326 mln or 91%.

Instead, there was the increase in exports of meat and poultry products by 2.7 times or USD 244 mln. The main reason for this was the signing of the FTA with the EU and the active use of quotas for duty-free export of products to the European Union. Poultry meat in the rating of the most exported products has risen from 16^th place in 2012 to 8^th in 2017. Also, the export of sugar increased 2.5 times - from USD 113.9 mln to USD 280.2 mln.

«In 2017, the export of agrarian products reached almost record-breaking pre-crisis indicators, but its structure didn’t undergo significant changes. Almost 60% of supplies continue to be raw materials, and the list of products includes those exact same sunflower oil and cereals. Ukraine lost Russia as the market for cheese and chocolate but instead increased supplies of poultry meat. In the future, it is necessary to develop intensively exports by increasing supplies of value-added products in order to level the status of Ukraine as a «raw material appendage», commented Daria Grytsenko, analyst of agricultural markets of the Association «Ukrainian Agribusiness Club».