Ukraine might change logistics of its agricultural exports - UAC deputy head

MOSCOW. March 10 (Interfax) - Ukraine has technical capabilities to neutralize the threat of Hungary blocking transits of its agricultural products through its territory by increasing the intensity of maritime shipments and employing the capacity of the Danube ports, Ukrainian media quoted Denis Marchuk, deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC), as saying in televised remarks.

"The volume of transit through Hungary does not exceed 700,000 tonnes per year, while we ship about 4.5 million to 5 million tonnes a month through sea corridors," Marchuk said.

Ukraine has already set up alternative routes, in particular via Romania, he said.

"Our markets have been the same for years. The question is only about prices and terms of competition, which are favorable for Ukrainian producers right now," Marchuk said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said earlier that Budapest could halt transits of goods important for Ukraine, such as agricultural products, in retaliation for suspending Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline.

Budapest does not intend to meet Kiev's demand that it stop receiving energy from Russia and might resort to radical logistical restrictions to protect the interests of its own economy and farmers, Orban said.