There is some insignificant domestic rice production in Crimea and Kherson Oblast which does not meet demand. Ukraine is expected to produce approximately 59,000 tons of milled rice in 2001, up slightly from last year. Area harvested looks to remain roughly the same as last year. It is expected that rice imports will remain at the 2000 levels.
Some rice is marketed with U.S. flags or logos.
U.S. rice prices cannot compete with rice from developing countries. The forecast for 2000 rice area harvested stands at 20,000 hectares, down from an estimated 22,000 hectares in 1999. 2000 rice production in Ukraine is forecast at a mere 50,000 tons, slightly below the 70,000 tons produced in 1999. Vietnam and India have remained the major suppliers of lower priced and lower quality rice to Ukraine. In CY 1999, Vietnam and India supplied 27,794 tons and 24,256 tons, respectively, out of the total 67,317 tons imported by Ukraine.