January 4, 2012

Russia's 2011 grain exports to exceed 18 million tonnes

Grain exports from Russia, including exports of leguminous plants, could exceed 18 million tonnes in 2011, said Dmitry Rylko, the general director of the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies.

"If you add exports of legumes, the overall figure should exceed 18.1 million tonnes," Rylko said.

Wheat exports amounted to 14.8 million tonnes, barley over 2 million tonnes, and corn 750,000 tonnes, Rylko said. All these figures are all-time high for Russia, he said.

Peas, which were actively bought by Middle Eastern countries, accounted for nearly 85% of Russia's legumes exports in 2011, he said.

Three southern regions of Russia, i.e. the Rostov region and the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories, contributed to about 85% of all Russia's grain exports last year, Rylko said.

The southern part of Russia is close to exhausting its export potential, Rylko said. "Therefore, the main intrigue and challenge of the second half of the season [January-June 2012] will be the railroad infrastructure's ability to transport grain from the continental part of the country," he said.

According to the Federal Customs Service's information as of December 29, Russia's grain exports reached 17.9 million tonnes.