Ukrainian exports of agricultural products to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries in 2014 fell by 31.1%, according to materials published by the Ministry of Agricultural Policy and Food.

According to its data, last year the CIS countries received agricultural products worth $2.5 billion.

At the same time, exports to Asia increased by 9.9%, to $6.6 billion, the European Union - by 6.4%, to $4.8 billion, Africa - by 0.5%, to $2.5 billion.

The ministry plans in the near future to sign free trade agreements with several countries, among which are Canada, Israel, Turkey, Serbia, and Vietnam. In addition, it is in talks on providing Ukrainian producers with access to the poultry market of Saudi Arabia, as well as increasing corn supplies to China. It is expected that by the end of the year the country will start exporting dairy products to the EU.

According to the ministry, total exports of agricultural products in 2014 were $17 billion compared to $17.3 billion in 2013. The foreign trade surplus was $10.6 billion.