Ukrainian vegetable oil exports totalled 549,400 metric tons in July, 7% higher that a month earlier, while grain export shows a significant decrease, the UCAB agricultural business association said on Tuesday.

UCAB said sunflower oil amounted for 92% of the volume. Before the last year’s Russian invasion Ukraine was a world leading sunflower oil exporter.

Ukrainian agriculture ministry said on Monday the country’s grain exports for the first month of the new season rose to 2.16 million tons from 1.61 million in July 2022.

However, the grain export volume in July was 40% less than in June, the association said.

“These disappointing export results are primarily due to the suspension of the grain corridor on 18 July, as well as its low activity even before the expiry of the term,” UCAB said.

Russia left the deal on July 17 after saying its demands to ease sanctions on its own grain and fertiliser exports had not been met. Moscow also complained that not enough grain had reached poor countries.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Louise Heavens)