According to the State Statistics Committee last year Ukraine exported 10.5 ths heads of live cattle, that is in 4.5 times more than the figures of 2012. It was informed by the Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club” (UCAB).

The vast majority of live cattle was exported in 2013 to Azerbaijan, namely 78% of the total (over 8 ths heads). Also, 18% live cattle was sold to Uzbekistan, and 5% - to Kazakhstan. Exporting pure-bred breeding animals last year amounted to about 3.2 mln heads, i.e., 31% of the total exports of live cattle. To compare, in 2012, the export of live cattle was much smaller, but then pure-bred breeding animals had a share of 80%.

Regarding the import of live cattle, last year it declined by 22% - up to 2.7 mln heads. Most of the imported cattle are pure-bred breeding animals from the Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Poland and Germany. In addition to the animals from Europe, in 2013 it was also imported 376 heads pure-bred breeding cattle from Canada.

Expert on agrarian markets of the Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club” (UCAB) Alina Zharko explains that the low purchasing prices for cattle and low demand for beef from the meat processing enterprises happened the past year, has strengthened interest in live cattle by other countries. Originally, mainly bulls were exported, and this provoked a rise in purchasing prices in the fourth quarter of last year. When market worsened deficit bulls, they started to export cows.

"In 2013, export duty on live cattle was 25%. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine last year registered the Bill aimed on reduction of the export duty up to 5%. This year the geography of exports slightly expanded, and according to market operators, in addition to the traditional countries live cattle is exported also to such countries as Georgia, Moldova and Belarus. Exports of live cattle is promising for the industry, as in result of the low purchasing prices for cattle and high cost the stockbreeding is unprofitable. Another problem is that prices for pure-bred bulls of meat breeds are not much higher than the prices on the usual cattle, therefore, the enterprise specialized in cattle breeding are looking for markets in those countries where the good quality is ready to paid", said Alina Zharko.