Russia to produce 90 million tonnes of grain in 2010

In 2010, grain production in Russia will exceed 90 million tonnes, according to an industry expert.

Arcadiy Zlochevskiy, head of Russian Grain Union, said the country produced 97 million tonnes of grain in 2009 and grain stocks are continuing to increase.

Taking into account the level of winter crops sowing areas of 18 million hectares, and the possible reduction of spring sowing areas, the general grain sowing areas in 2010 will total nearly 48 million hectares, said Zlochevskiy.

In the current year, the resources will allow the production of nearly 90 million tonnes of grains.

According to Sergey Levin, the general director of the United Grain Company (UGC), the public intervention fund will stock 10 million tonnes of grains at the end of January 2010. As of January 25, 2010, the volume totalled 9.7 million tonnes. In the current year, UGC plans to export nearly four million tonnes of grains.