Poland bans import of Ukrainian grain to protect its farmers

2023-04-17 11:06:37

Due to logistical problems, stocks from Ukraine are piling up on Polish soil, causing prices to fall. Despite its alliance with kyiv, Warsaw is closing the door to Ukrainian cereals until June 30.

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Posted on 17/04/2023 13:06

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A truck carrying corn drives near grain silos in the Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania, in March 2022. Illustrative photo. (DANIEL MIHAILESCU / AFP)

Ending the agricultural crisis is the priority of the Polish government. Since the start of the Russian offensive more than a year ago and the reduction in exports via the Black Sea, Poland has become the number one transit country for agricultural commodities from Ukraine. Due to logistics problems, stocks are piling up. And faced with the collapse of prices and huge losses for professionals, the executive decided on Saturday, April 15, to ban the import of Ukrainian cereals.

>> War in Ukraine: in Central Europe, the influx of Ukrainian cereals angers farmers

Hungary does the same

A pebble in the shoe of the ruling nationalist law and justice party, as legislative elections loom next year. The Minister of Agriculture was forced to resign. In a meeting this weekend, the number 1 of the ruling party, Jaroslav Kazinski, in vain underlined that Poland, an ally of Kiev, would continue at all costs to firmly support Ukraine, the decision was very coolly received by the side of Kiev. According to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, discussions should take place on Monday April 17 between the two countries.

Following in the footsteps of Poland, Hungary has also decided to ban grain imports from Ukraine. Kyiv usually exports most of its agricultural products, especially grain, through its Black Sea ports. The Hungarian Agriculture Minister made the announcement on Facebook. The two countries have clarified that these bans run until June 30.

In Poland, this embargo concerns cereals but also sugar, meat, fruit and vegetables, milk, eggs and other food products. In Hungary, these are cereals, oilseeds and several other agricultural products.