January 12, 2012

As compared with November's output of 2.005 million tonnes, Ukraine's grain exports rose to 2.454 million tonnes in December 2011, UkrAgroConsult said on Wednesday (Jan 11).

The consultancy said in a report the volume included 1.975 million tonnes of corn, 367,100 of wheat and 82,800 of barley.

UkrAgroConsult said Ukraine exported its corn mostly to Egypt, Spain, Iran and Israel. Ukrainian wheat went to Spain, Israel and Thailand, while barley went to Syria and Libya.

The consultancy said additional 633,000 tonnes of grain, including 543,000 tonnes of corn, was due to be exported in the near future.

Ukraine harvested a record 56.4 million tonnes of grain in 2011 and the Agriculture Ministry forecasts exports at about 23 million tonnes in the 2011/12 season.

The former Soviet republic sold abroad 12.7 million tonnes of grain in 2010/11.

Farm Minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk said on Wednesday that a severe drought could reduce Ukrainian grain harvest to 44 to 46 million tonnes, including 12 million tonnes of wheat.

Ukraine consumes about 12 million tonnes of wheat per season but the government said large wheat stocks would help the country to overcome a decrease in the harvest.