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In recent years, Ukraine has been Increasing the import of agri-food products at a rate that signfiicantly exceeds the rate of increase іп exports. As a result, the Import-export coverage ratio is decreasing, and for many commodity groups and commodity items, instead of a positive trade baiance, a negative one appears. This article is devoted to the study of the formation of volume, dynamics, structure and reasons for the increase in the cost of imports based on the use of inethods and techniques of economic and statistical analysis. The paper states that the main reason for the increase in the volume and value of imports is the disproportion between the Iow growth rates of domestic production of agricultural and food industry products and the high growth rates of household incomes. The Iatter circumstance contributes to the formation of a constantly growing demand and a shortage of goods for individual commodity items, which is covered by an increase іп imports. The analysis of the commodity and geographic structures of imports of goods of four product sections was carried out in accordance with UKTVED. It has been estaЫished that for a number of commodity groups and commodity items of the first, second and fourth sections, imports increase for such types of products for the production of which Ukraine has the necessary conditions (Iivestock products, vegetaЫes, fruits, berries, seeds of cereals and oilseeds, most of the commodity food groups). Increasing the production of these types of products can significantly reduce their imports. For products of other commodity groups and commodity items in Ukraine, there are no necessary conditions (tropical crops, fish and crustaceans, etc.) and the cost of imports is determined by the financial capabilities of importers. The study of the geographicaI structure shows that the main exporters of agri-food products to Ukraine are the countriea of the European Union, which fully use the conditions of the free trade zone with Ukraine and are the main suppliers of products of the first and fourth sections (products of animal origin, some prepared food ргоducts). It is for these types of goods that a significant negative ЬаІапсе is formed in trade with the EU соuntries. . It has аІао been estaЫished that imports from other regiona of the world take pIace mainly for thoae types of products that are not produced in Ukraine. The conclusions provide recommendations that relate to the possibilities of reducing imports, mainly Ьу increasing domestic production, without excluding the use of administrative regulation for certain types of goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]