You're reading: Ministry: Ukraine to export sugar to China, other Asian countries

The Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has held a number of talks with potential buyer countries of Ukrainian-produced sugar, including China, Afghanistan and other Asian countries, the ministry's press service reported on Wednesday with reference to Agriculture Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk.

"The bumper crop of sugar beets and the amount of sugar produced by agribusinesses this year will fully meet domestic demand, keeping prices of this strategic staple food stable, and generating export potential," the minister said after a government meeting on Wednesday.

He also noted that this year Ukraine has stabilized its production of sugar: should climatic conditions be favorable, the country can harvest sugar beets from 537,300 hectares and refine two million tonnes of sugar from the harvest.

Ukrainian sugar refineries as of Nov. 14, 2011 put out 1.78 million tonnes of sugar from newly harvested sugar beets, which was 39.5% up year-over-year.

The annual capacity of the Ukrainian sugar market is estimated at 1.8-2 million tonnes.