Polish milk processors expect drop in exports to Ukraine

Polish milk processors are concerned about the closure of their market for the export of Ukrainian dairy products and expect the use of the reciprocity principle, which will lead to a drop in Ukraine's imports of Polish dairy products, Infagro analytical agency has reported.

"Today, most of all, I am afraid of using the reciprocity principle of Ukraine in trade relations with Poland. If Ukraine closes its market for us, we will find ourselves in a very difficult situation. Today, 6% of all exports of our cheese go to Ukraine. The volume of imports of dairy products to Poland from Ukraine was small compared to Polish exports to Ukraine. Therefore, the income and loss account is obvious," the agency quoted First Vice President of COGECA, Director of Izba Mleka (Poland) Agnieszka Maliszewska.

President of the Polish Association of Dairy Processors Marcin Hydzik shares her concern. According to the reciprocity principle, it could be expected that Polish exports will slow down unless the agriculture ministers reach other agreements, he said in an interview with portalspozywczy.pl.

According to him, in January-March 2023, Ukraine supplied 1 tonne of products marked with the CN 0401 code – non-concentrated milk and cream without added sugar, 60 tonnes of butter or other milk fats, and 710 tonnes of powdered milk to Poland.

During the same period, Poland exported 2,213 tonnes of cheese, 1,080 tonnes of whey, and 1,312 tonnes of fermented products to Ukraine.

Source: www.en.interfax.com.ua