Lithuanian farmers see no threat from Ukrainian agricultural products

The export of Ukrainian grain does not pose a threat to Lithuanian farmers, as it is transported through Baltic ports for re-export, and therefore is not as urgent an issue as it is for frontline countries.

This opinion was expressed by Ramūnas Karbauskis, leader of the Lithuanian Peasants and Greens Union (LVŽS).

“Exports through Lithuania cannot pose a threat (to farmers – Ed.), but can only pose a threat in the case of large imports for local consumption from Ukraine. Because Ukrainians are forced to sell grain much cheaper than on the world market, but in this case it is not as relevant for Lithuania as for the countries bordering Ukraine,” he said.

At the same time, the businessman noted that Lithuanian farmers are much more sympathetic to Ukrainian farmers and “do not believe there is any problem here.”

According to him, Lithuania buys mainly corn to meet the needs of the domestic market, which is not a direct competition for Lithuanian farmers. He also reminded that small volumes of Ukrainian agricultural products are exported through the port of Klaipeda, but this is “re-export, which does not affect the local market in any way.”

At the same time, Karbauskis said he understands the Polish-Hungarian situation, where there is dissatisfaction with local competition for Ukrainian grain.

“I understand the situation of Poles and Hungarians who face competition in the local market, in consumption, and perhaps it has a strong impact. It seems to me that it is related to the elections in Poland, and the hype around Ukrainian grain could be exaggerated,” said the head of the union.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that as soon as Ukraine wins the war, Ukrainian farmers will return to global markets and prices, and everything will return to “normal.”

“If there are small problems now, everything will return to normal after the war is over,” he emphasized.

Tags: grain, Lithuania, Ukraine