Last year’s Ukrainian exports to EU were largest for all years of independence

In 2018, Ukrainian exports to the countries of the European Union were the largest for all the years of its independence.

“In 2018, our exports to the countries of the European Union were the largest for all the years of Ukraine’s independence,” President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said during the Annual Members Appreciation Reception at the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

In particular, Ukraine was the fifth largest exporter of the agricultural products to the European Union.

At present, the EU's share in the structure of Ukrainian exports is 42.6%, while the share of the Russian Federation is 7.6%, Poroshenko recalled.

At the same time, the President stressed that the free trade agreement with the EU contributed to the entry of Ukrainian goods into other world markets.

 “Ukraine will no longer be a country of cheap labor force. We have other competitive advantages. I emphasize once again: the deep and comprehensive free trade area with the European Union gains even a bigger importance as it also becomes a springboard for entering other world markets,” the President declared.

If a product or a service is sold to the EU, they will definitely be interesting for many other countries of the world, Poroshenko noted.