Azerbaijan among main importers of Ukrainian sugar in 2016

By Azernews

By Rashid Shirinov

Ukrainian companies plan to export 250,000 tons of sugar until the end of 2016, the Association of Sugar Producers “Ukrsugar” reported.

The Association noted that Georgia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong and other Asian countries are the main export markets for Ukrainian sugar. For September 2015-June 2016, Azerbaijan received 6,700 tons of sugar from Ukraine.

This year, the sown area of sugar beet in Ukraine amounted to 284,000 hectares, that is almost 30 percent bigger compared to the data of last year. Experts believe the projected harvest will be close to 13 million tons.

“Ukrsugar” predicts that Ukrainian plants will produce approximately two million tons of sugar during the 2016/2017 marketing year.

The Association also estimates sugar residual to exceed 300,000 tons by the end of the current marketing year.

“Ukrsugar”, founded on January 17, 1997, is a nationwide public association of collectives, organizations and other legal entities and individuals involved in sugar production in Ukraine. To date, the Association includes 67 members.

In general, Azerbaijan and Ukraine have sustainable prospects of bilateral relations in political, economic, energy, transport and humanitarian fields. That is evidenced by $137.68-million trade turnover in January-May 2016, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.

Recently, President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Ukrainian delegation headed by President Petro Poroshenko. During the visit, a number of bilateral agreements were signed between two nations. Additionally, they discussed implementation of joint projects in energy, transport and agricultural spheres.