Ukraine's 2009 grain market in good condition

Grain production in Ukraine totalled 48 million tonnes in 2009 despite difficult weather conditions and the global economic recession.

Including carry-over stocks, grain supply on Ukraine's market totals nearly 53 million tonnes, according to Sergey Stoianov, general director of Ukrainian agrarian confederation. He said this supply will form the potential source for exports of Ukrainian grains.

Ukraine exported 11.4 million tonnes of grain during the first five months of the current marketing year, an increase from the 10.9 million tonnes in the same period last year.

Wheat exports were mostly unchanged from 5.8 million tonnes, including 4.2 million tonnes of feed wheat. Corn export volumes more than doubled from 800,000 tonnes to 1.9 million tonnes, the agency said.

In November, Ukraine exported more than one million tonnes of corn, with local corn prices reaching UAH1,400 (US$175) per tonne in the ports, and UAH1,260-UAH1,280 (US$157-US$160) per tonne at elevators in the central region.

During five months of the current marketing year, barley exports totalled 3.5 million tonnes compared to 4.3 million tonnes during the same period of the previous marketing year, the agency reported.