In Ukraine honey production could reach about 66-71 thousand tons in 2014, which is 3,7-10,5% less than a year earlier. However, exports of the production could rise to 24-27 thousand tons, that exceeds the last year's value by 10,7-24,6%. This was reported in the Association “Ukrainian Agribusiness Club” (UCAB).

Essential preconditions for reduction of honey production this year became military and political factors. So, annexation of AR Crimea took away from Ukrainian production the share of about 3,8% (2,8 thousand tons produced in 2013), military operations in Donetsk and Luhansk would also affect the industry negatively, as Donetsk region is the largest producer of honey in Ukraine: in 2013, it produced 10,3 thousand tons of sweet products or 14% of the total production in the country, while Luhansk region has production that is similar to the Crimean one – 2,8 thousand tons or 3,8%. Despite the armed conflict, subject to the current events decrease in production of this region will not carry critical character.

While production rates are forecast to grow down, exports might increase. Thus, 10,9 thousand tons of honey were exported for the first half of 2014, which is 3 thousand tons or 37,2% more than for the same period last year. Hryvnia devaluation in this case is also the driving factor.

"The impetus pushing the exports volumes was implementation of Autonomous Trade Preferences Regime by EU in relation to Ukraine. In accordance to it, a quota for export at zero rate of duty for 5 thousand tons of honey was provided to the Ukrainian producers which was reached by them to its complete limit on August 13, 2014 ", - concludes expert of agricultural markets of the Association “Ukrainian Agribusiness Club” (UCAB) Igor Ostapchuk.

Besides, on September 18 UCAB together with leading agribusiness experts will hold a series of discussions within the conference “Effective Agricultural Management” on economic efficiency and exports opportunities.

Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club"  

3 floor, 146 Zhylianska Str.

01032 Kyiv, Ukraine

Phone/Fax: +380 44 2362097/79

kotyk@ucab.ua 

Tetiana Kotyk 

www.ucab.ua

The Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club" (UCAB) www.ucab.ua was founded in 2007 to protect the economic and professional interests of players of agribusiness in Ukraine. UCAB is a unique platform in Ukraine for establishing business contacts between the leaders of agribusiness, improvement their work and dialogue with the government. UCAB actively supports Ukrainian producers in establishing and maintaining international business relations. The Association consists of the largest producers and processors of agricultural products in Ukraine.