Ukraine and Russia are both important food exporters to the world, and their wheat exports account for about a third of global exports. Since the outbreak of the Conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the prices of some agricultural products, especially wheat, have continued to rise, and merchants and consumers in many countries have been affected. The recent ban on the export of wheat and other agricultural products by the Ukrainian government has further deepened the concerns of the outside world about the global food crisis.
David Wright, head of a flour mill in the UK: In the last two weeks, we have seen wheat prices rise by more than 30%, and we have never heard of such a high price before. We now urgently need to raise the price of flour through the market, otherwise our company will fail if it continues to operate at such a high cost.
Wheat prices are high, and manufacturers and consumers are under severe pressure
As tensions in Ukraine continue, trade in Black Sea ports has been severely disrupted, pushing up the price of grains such as wheat. As Wright puts it, the UK-based flour mill has now taken a hit, and consumers will eventually "pay" for it.
The production and export problems of Ukrainian wheat endanger the global food supply
In fact, the production and export of agricultural products such as wheat in Ukraine is now a problem.
Recently, in order to ensure its own food supply, the Ukrainian government announced a ban on the export of wheat, oats and other staple foods that are essential to the global food supply. According to the Ukrainian government announcement, the new regulations on the export of agricultural products also prohibit the export of millet, buckwheat, sugar, live cattle, beef and other cattle by-products. It has been reported that this is the latest sign that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict endangers the food supply and livelihoods of people in Europe, Africa and Asia.
In addition, it has been reported that Ukraine's wheat production this year could be significantly reduced by shortages of materials such as fertilizers, fuel and pesticides, thus jeopardizing wheat exports in the food-producing powerhouse. Some analysts said that if Ukraine's wheat production is reduced, it will pose a new blow to global food prices.
It is not only developed countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States that are affected by this, but also the Middle East and North Africa regions are facing the adverse impact of insufficient wheat supply. In recent years, Lebanon, Egypt and Yemen have all relied on wheat imports from Ukraine. According to the World Food Programme, more than half of Lebanon's wheat imports are supplied by Ukraine, and Tunisia's 42 percent of its wheat imports come from Ukraine, compared with Yemen's nearly 25 percent.
In response, THE SENIOR SPOKESMAN OF THE UNITED FOOD PROGRAMME, ABIL ETFA, expressed concern about a possible global food crisis.
Abir Etfa, senior spokesman for the United Nations Food Programme: A series of issues from Ukraine and Russia about the production and export of agricultural products will threaten the food security of millions of people around the world, which will affect the REST of the UK and Europe, especially the most vulnerable countries from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
(Source: CCTV Finance)