Export to Germany
Products from Ukraine – Europe’s “granary” provides us with much more than just wheat
Wheat harvest in eastern Ukraine: Grain is one of the best-known products in the country, but just one of many
© Alexander Reka/ / Picture Alliance
In view of the Ukraine war, it also becomes clear how many goods and raw materials the Eastern European country supplies to other countries around the world and how important these products are for Germany. Here is an overview.
The war in Ukraine is currently drawing attention to the enormous importance that products from the country of 44 million people have for many countries around the world and for a number of industries. The country, which has been under attack from Russia for almost three weeks, is not only an exporter of many agricultural products, the Ukrainians also export technical products abroad. All this is “Made in Ukraine”.
Grains from Ukraine feed many people worldwide
Ukraine is considered the “granary of Europe” and, together with Russia, is one of the most important wheat producers in the world. About 30 percent of global wheat production comes from these two countries, which are currently at war.
The country’s flag already shows how important agriculture is in Ukraine: Many people interpret the blue stripe as the sky and the yellow as a symbol for the grain that grows so well in the country – thanks to the fertile black earth. What Ukraine plants is processed into food for people – and animal feed, too. Agricultural product prices have risen sharply since the beginning of the war.
To date, Ukraine has always ranked among the top ten most important grain producers in the world. According to industry information, Ukrainian wheat has accounted for around eight percent of the world market in recent years.
Agricultural products accounted for about half of Ukraine’s exports in 2020, N-TV reports, citing the US-led International Trade Administration. In addition to wheat, the country also sells corn, barley and rapeseed abroad. More than 70 percent of these exports recently went to the European Union, but grain from Ukraine is also supplied to Africa, which is why UN Secretary-General António Guterres has already warned of a “hurricane of hunger” as many poorer countries lose agricultural products from Ukraine – and also from Russia – and the war could significantly affect these supplies.
It was reported this week from Spain that flour and sunflower oil are becoming scarce there – sunflowers are also cultivated on a large scale in Ukraine. For sunflower oil, the Iberians are exceptionally dependent on Ukraine. A total of 62 percent of Spanish demand recently came from the embattled country.
In Germany, the Federal Association of the German Food Trade called not to hoard sunflower oil. In view of reports of bottlenecks in individual foods, some people are apparently buying goods in stock again – as at the height of the corona lockdowns.
Parts for the automotive industry – wire harnesses from Western Ukraine
The Ukraine is also an important supplier for the German automotive industry, and cable harnesses are produced in the west of the country. The Nuremberg car supplier Leoni had to close two plants in the Ukraine shortly after the start of the war.
The lack of wiring harnesses, which are different for each vehicle model and control the functioning of the on-board network, is already having an impact on car production in Germany. At VW, for example, it is sometimes not possible to produce, as was said at the end of last week. The carmaker had to cut shifts because of the lack of wiring harnesses.
Iron, steel and wood – there are bottlenecks here too
According to specialist media, the export of iron and steel is also important for Ukraine’s exports. The Eastern European country accounted for a little more than three percent of global production. Steel production is particularly relevant for the construction industry, and the shortage is also being felt in Germany. According to industry observers, the prices for steel mats for the construction industry have risen by more than 70 percent in Germany since autumn, and reinforcing steel has seen a price jump of more than 40 percent.
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After all, the wood-processing industry in Germany fears the economic consequences of the war of aggression against the Ukraine: around three percent of all softwood lumber imports into the Federal Republic come from the Ukraine. Since a little more than twice as much is delivered from Belarus and a good 14 percent has so far come from Russia, this industry is also very closely intertwined with the actors in the political crisis in Eastern Europe.
Swell: “N-TV.de“, “manager magazine“, “Weltexporte.de“, “machine market“, “Holzkurier.com” / with material from dpa