According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, over the first ten months of this year, Ukraine exported agricultural goods worth $1.2 billion to Poland, while Poland sent $688 million worth of agricultural products to Ukraine.
Vitaliy Koval, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, highlighted these figures during an online meeting with Czesław Siekierski, Poland’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, which was also attended by representatives of Ukrainian and Polish agricultural associations.
“Our agricultural products contain many Polish components, such as mineral fertilizers, plant protection products, and seeds. It’s important for both countries that trade remains continuous and mutually beneficial,” Koval stated. “This synergy allows us to jointly enter third markets and strengthen the economies of our nations.”
In total trade between the two countries, Polish exports to Ukraine from January to October 2023 amounted to $5.6 billion, while Ukrainian exports to Poland reached $4.15 billion. Of these figures, agricultural products represent a significant portion, reflecting the deep agricultural ties and interdependencies in their supply chains.
Koval urged understanding for Ukrainian farmers who operate under wartime conditions, facing numerous obstacles such as mined fields and energy shortages. He emphasized that Ukrainian producers are not deliberately undercutting prices but are striving to survive in a challenging environment of armed conflict. The minister pointed out that despite the hardships—farmland under occupation, equipment destroyed by drones, and the constant threat of explosions—Ukrainian farmers respect and adhere to established trade rules.
“It’s worth recalling that our farmers face unequal conditions. Their survival and the filling of the state budget depend on their ability to export,” Koval said. “Our tractors are blown up by mines, our harvesters destroyed by drones, and our farms often operate without electricity. Still, we maintain compliance with trade regulations. I hope for understanding from our Polish counterparts, who themselves know what it takes to preserve a harvest.”
These discussions underscore the importance of ongoing dialogue and cooperation between Ukraine and Poland. Both nations aim to leverage their agricultural strengths, ensuring stable trade relations that benefit producers, consumers, and the broader region.
