January 19, 2012

Ukraine to abstain grain exports on poor winter crops harvest

Due to unfavourable weather conditions that have negatively affected winter crops, Ukraine is considering deterring grain exports, Agriculture Minister Nikolai Prisyazhnyuk said Wednesday (Jan 18).

According to the country's Agricultural Policy Ministry, a drought that hit Ukraine in September-November 2011 made it necessary to sow winter crops anew on roughly two million hectares, or 30% of the total winter crops area.

"Should there be no dramatic growth in wheat exports, the government would not see to any threats or have to regulate the situation," Prisyazhnyuk also said.

Prisyazhnyuk said that Ukraine exported 10.4 million tonnes of grain as of Wednesday and plans to export about 12-14 million tonnes more in the current marketing year.

In 2011, Ukraine harvested a record of about 58 million tonnes of grain. The country intends to export roughly 26 million tonnes of grain this marketing year.