February 25 2005, 13:10 APK-Inform

Ukraine should introduce zero import duty for rape and sunflower seeds - Ukroliyaprom

Association Ukroliyaprom, which consolidates Ukrainian oil-extracting enterprises, initiates zero import duty for rapeseed and sunflower seed,- Deputy Director General of the Association, Stepan Kapshuk, said on February 24, 2005. According to his words, the bill has already been submitted to Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine.

He emphasizes that none country in the world sets import duty for raw-materials.

Today in Ukraine there is import duty in the amount of 1,000 Euro per tonne of sunflower seed (preferential duty makes €500 per tonne). Import duty for rapeseed totals €40 per tonne (preferential duty - €20 per tonne). There is no import duty for soy and palm oils already.

According to Ukroliyaprom, combined capacity of Ukraine totals 5 million tonnes yearly. At the end of 2006 Ukrainian capacities are forecasted to increase to 6.2 million tonnes per year.

Ukroliyaprom also declared about their intention to initiate introduction of import duty for modified and combined fats. At the present time Ukraine produces about 80,000 tonnes of pastry fats, one half of this amount (40,000 tonnes) is produced in the country and the other half (40,000 tonnes) is imported.