Ukraine became one of the world”s largest grain exporters in March due to the growth of the foreign supplies. According to ProAgro, in the reporting month, Ukraine has increased deliveries of grain and leguminous crops to foreign markets by 52.2% or more than 1.5 MMT – to 4.4 MMT. The increase in exports occurred, mainly, due to wheat and corn. Moreover, the volume of supplies of corn increased by 69.8% compared to the previous month. In turn, in March, there was a decrease in export sales of flour by 2.1% compared to February. It should also be noted that this month rye exports to Bangladesh were 4.3 KMT, which accounted for 91.5% of the total rye exports from the beginning of MY 2016/17 .
Weighted average export prices for all grain, except for barley, increased this month in comparison with February – wheat grew to $164.0/t; peas – up to $ 283.7/t; corn – up to $155.2/t. The weighted average export price of Ukrainian barley was $150.6/t, losing $0.5/t in March compared to the previous month.
In general, there were no changes in TOP-5 exporters list. The key exporting companies were: Kernel, Nibulon, Cargill, State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine, Bunge Ukraine and ADM, which accounted for 25% of the main grain exports. In view of the fact that shipments increased in March, the share of grain in the export structure also changed: wheat fell to 23.8%; barley – to 4.7%; corn – increased to 69.5%.
Ukraine: the largest exporters of major grain crops, MY 2016/17
Wheat exporters |
Share, % |
Corn exporters |
Share, % |
Barley exporters |
Share, % |
Nibulon |
7,6 |
Kernel |
7,3 |
Granum Invest |
13,1 |
Kernel |
7,4 |
Nibulon |
6,9 |
Nibulon |
10,1 |
Cargill |
5,3 |
ADM |
3,5 |
State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine |
8,0 |
State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine |
5,0 |
Europe-Trans |
2,9 |
Kernel |
7,1 |
Bunge Ukraine |
3,5 |
State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine |
2,9 |
ADM |
6,0 |
Other |
71,1 |
Other |
76,4 |
Other |
55,6 |
The main deliveries in March were sent, as in the previous months, to the countries of Southeast Asia and North Africa without significant changes in TOP-5 list. Noticeable changes in TOP-3 leaders occurred in wheat importers – Egypt reduced the volume of imports of Ukrainian grain in the current season to 1,254.3 KMT, moving to the 5th position from the 2nd in February. As a result, Thailand and Indonesia took the lead after India with shares of 11.0 and 9.9% respectively.
The list of importers of corn and barley remained unchanged – Egypt, Iran, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy purchased 60% of Ukrainian corn in this season and Saudi Arabia, Libya, China, Algeria, Jordan – 76.7% barley.
Ukraine: geography of exports of main grain crops, MY 2016/17
Wheat importers |
Share, % |
Corn importers |
Share, % |
Barley importers |
Share, % |
India |
20,0 |
Egypt |
16,9 |
Saudi Arabia |
42,5 |
Egypt |
11,1 |
Iran |
14,3 |
Libya |
18,8 |
Thailand |
10,2 |
Spain |
11,7 |
China |
6,1 |
Indonesia |
9,6 |
The Netherlands |
9,5 |
Alger |
4,6 |
Bangladesh |
8,9 |
Italy |
7,7 |
Jordan |
4,6 |
Other |
40,4 |
Other |
40,0 |
Other |
23,2 |