Ukraine became one of the 10 largest exporters of agricultural products through the Suez Canal southwards in 2014, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Oleksii Pavlenko wrote in a column for the RBC-Ukraine publication.

"Ukraine occupied tenth place among countries of the world in terms of tonnage of products exported in the southern direction in 2014 (40,000 tons, which is 4.9% of the total volume of goods in this direction). We transport grains, fertilizer, and other agricultural products through the canal," the minister said.

In addition, according to him, official estimates indicate that the transit time for cargoes in the southern direction through the new channel of the Suez Canal reduced by 8 hours and the Egyptian government is predicting that the number of transit vessels will increase from 49 to 97 per day by 2023.

"Increase of the export of Ukrainian agricultural products is a realistic scenario. We have already become an important element of global food security, and this is just the beginning," said Pavlenko.

According to him, Egypt agreed to import more than 12,000 tons of Ukrainian chicken a few days ago.

In general, the turnover of trade in agricultural products between Ukraine and Egypt in the first seven months of 2015 was USD 663 million.