KIEV, UKRAINE — Increased wheat production in Ukraine translated into a 52% increase in exports during the first four months of the 2019-20 marketing year, according to a Feb. 6 Global Agricultural Information Network report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

From July to October 2019, exports grew to all major regions except for the E.U., which saw a 43% decrease compared to the same period a year ago, the USDA said.

The two biggest destinations for Ukraine wheat during this period were Africa and the Middle East.

Nearly four times the amount of wheat was exported from Ukraine to Egypt than the same period in the previous year, the USDA said. Exports to Turkey increased five-fold while Yemen took in more than twice as much wheat from Ukraine as it did during the same four-month period in 2018-19.

The USDA noted that Ukraine flour exports from July to October 2019 grew by 72%, compared to the same period of the previous year.

“The major growth factor were exports to the United Arab Emirates that reached 34,100 tonnes (wheat equivalent) compared to 3,100 tonnes for the same period in the previous year,” the USDA said. “This growth is also supported by shipments of smaller batches to three new markets: Somalia, Indonesia and Mozambique.”

Ukraine is forecast to rank seventh in wheat production (29 million tonnes) and fifth in exports (20.5 million tonnes) in 2019-20, according to the USDA.