Yanukovych claims there is sugar shortage in Ukraine

Leader of the Regions Party Viktor Yanukovych has said that the current situation in the sugar industry should not be tolerated.

"The situation in sugar industry is inadmissible. This field is being gradually destroyed in Ukraine, and it will disappear soon, if the situation continues to develop like this," he told journalists while visiting the Brailev sugar refinery in Vinnytsia region on Wednesday.

Yanukovych said that the number of plants processing sugar beet in Ukraine has fallen significantly in recent times. He said that in Vinnytsia region only seven out of 44 sugar refineries are currently operating, and their profitability is very low.

According to Yanukovych, the sugar deficit in Ukraine is currently 700,000-800,000 tonnes. As Ukraine has sugar shortages, this product will be imported from other countries at a lower price, which will destroy domestic producers, Yanukovych said.

source: interfax