Recent russian strikes on the “Oleina” plant in Dnipro and on sunflower oil storage tanks at the ports of Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk have become a symbol of a new wave of attacks on Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure. Sunflower oil has spilled onto the beaches of Odesa and along the banks of the Dnipro River, but the real danger lies not in the loss of several thousand tonnes of product, writes ProAgro Group.
Ukraine remains the world’s largest supplier of sunflower oil, and exports of this product generate significant revenues for both farmers and the state. Despite dramatic images of spilled oil, no shortages are expected on store shelves: the domestic market is sufficiently supplied, and production facilities continue to operate.
The core problem is that damage to port terminals and processing plants disrupts logistics, reduces export volumes, and increases costs for companies. This, in turn, may lead to lower incomes in the agricultural sector, reduced foreign currency inflows, and additional pressure on the national economy.
“russians are deliberately targeting enterprises of the oil and fat industry. This is a budget-forming and export-oriented sector that provides a substantial share of the country’s foreign currency revenues,” said Stepan Kapshuk, Director General of the Ukroliyaprom association.
Thus, the main threat for Ukraine is not a shortage of sunflower oil for consumers, but the loss of export capacity and financial resources that underpin the agricultural economy. russian attacks are aimed precisely at depriving the country of revenues from one of its most important export commodities.
Read also: russia struck the Bunge plant in Dnipro, spilling 300Tonnes of Oil.
Source: LIGA.net
