Due to blocked ports and destroyed elevators in Ukraine, the issue of grain storage has become acute. This issue was stated in the appeal of the Ukrainian AgriCouncil to Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solskyi.

The UAC draws attention to the fact that two problems have been combined nowadays: blocked ports made it impossible to export the required amount of grain and destroyed elevators reduced the ability of farmers to gradually sell their products during the year.

"There are temporary storage solutions, such as storage in grain sleeves (polyethylene bags that can be placed directly on the field and hold up to 200 tons in one bag) or in silo. But now such bags are currently also in short supply and have become even more expensive because of that. It is important to note that the import of the specified products and equipment to Ukraine in terms of their filling is not facilitated by import duty rates, which are from 6.5 to 10 % of their customs value," is mentioned in the appeal.

The UAC asks the Minister to initiate the submission to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of a draft law that would amend the Customs Code of Ukraine regarding the customs duty exemption on the import of polymer sleeves, tent-type silo and trailers (hopper loaders). This will significantly improve the situation with grain storage in Ukraine.