January 19, 2012

Ukraine estimates 10.5 million tonnes grain exports

Since the start of the 2011/12 marketing year, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food Supplies estimates Ukrainian grain exports as of January 18, at 10.5 million tonnes, Agrarian Policy and Food Supplies Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk told a news briefing.

In particular, 5.8 million tonnes of corn was exported, 2.7 million tonnes of wheat, including 1.4 million tonnes of bread wheat.

The minister recalls, 12.5 million tonnes of grain was exported on the same day last year, including four million tonnes of bread wheat. The minister notes, the 2011 cereal grain harvest makes 13 million tonnes, while the volume of consumption is nearly five million tonnes. Thus, this marketing year Ukraine will be able to export five million tonnes more of bread grain.

Prysiazhniuk assumes the State will not limit exportation of bread grain this marketing year.

"If there is now jump in wheat exports, no threatening or need of public regulation of exports arouses," the minister said.

Prysiazhniuk predicts that altogether Ukraine may export 12 million or 14 million tonnes of grain more till the end of the marketing year. As earlier reported, the Ministry estimated grain exports since the 2011/12 marketing year at 9.65 million tonnes, as at January 13.