January 2, 2013

The state quarantine service said that Ukraine's state-run DPZKU grain company and private grain firm Rise could be the first exporters of Ukrainian corn to China.

Ukraine has said it planned to export about two million tonnes of corn to China in the 2012-13 season and the first shipments could take place this year.

Agriculture Minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk has said the former Soviet republic had harvested about 21 million tonnes of corn this year and 14-15 million tonnes could be exported. Ukraine boosted its corn output to a record 22.7 million tonnes last year from about five million tonnes five years ago.

Ukraine exports its corn mostly to the Middle East and North Africa, but the former Soviet republic has said it was looking for new markets for its bumper harvests. Earlier this year Ukraine said it might start shipments of corn to China by the end of this year under an agreement which will allow the country to pay back a US$3 billion Chinese loan.