Ukraine's agricultural exports to China double in January-July: minister

Ukraine's agricultural exports to China have increased to nearly 1 billion U.S. dollars in January-July 2015 from 407 million dollars in the same period last year, Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Olexiy Pavlenko said here Thursday.

"The exports of our agricultural products to China increased twofold in the first seven months of the year, reaching nearly 1 billion dollars," Pavlenko told reporters during a media briefing.

He said Ukraine's agricultural supplies to China are expected to further rise by the end of the current year, as the east European country is expecting a bumper grain harvest of at least 58.5 million tons.

Earlier this month, the Agriculture Ministry said Ukraine's grain exports to China rose more than fourfold to 578.3 million dollars in January-July 2015, while supplies of sunflower oil increased by 11 percent to 295.8 million dollars.

In the same time, Ukraine's alcohol exports to China increased sixfold, chocolate supplies have doubled, while juice shipments rose by 80 percent, the ministry said.

According to data, Ukraine's supplies of agricultural goods to China last year doubled to 767.3 million dollars, representing about 5 percent of the country's total agro-exports. Enditem