Any limitations on the exports of sunflower oil can have rather negative consequences for the food market of Ukraine, declared Stepan Kapshuk, General Director of the association Ukroliyaprom (Ukrainian Crushers' Association), on April 3 during his speech at the international conference "AOCS Oils and Fats World Market Update 2013" in Kiev.
He also noted that the number of countries, which imports Ukrainian sunflower oil, varies from 60 to 90, depending on the season.
Countries of Asia, the Middle East, the EU, the CIS, and Africa became the main consumers of Ukrainian sunflower oil on the world markets. Recently, such countries as India, Egypt, Turkey became the major importers. The volume of sunflower oil exports to China and Iran also increases, he said.
S.Kapshuk added that to date the supply of sunflower oil to China causes some concern, as the volumes are held back, due to uncertainty regarding the requirements of the Chinese party on the necessary indicators of phytosanitary certificate. The association hopes that the issue will be resolved quickly and positively.
According to him, in the recent years there are observed significant changes in the structure of exports of oilseed products from Ukraine.
Not only crude sunflower oil is the subject of exports, but also refined bottled oil, margarine products and fats for special purposes are used for exports. Sunflower oil covers over 22% in the structure of exports of the agro-industrial complex from Ukraine, and nearly 50% in the structure of exports of food products, stated the expert.
