February 11, 2011

Ukraine declares its position among leading grain exporters

Ukraine's government declared on Wednesday (Feb 9) that it is the world's fourth largest corn exporter, with 6% of the global market, and sixth biggest wheat exporter, accounting for 5.4% of total global wheat sales.

The country is also third largest world's exporter of barley, controlling 16.7% of the world market in the current marketing year, July 2010-June 2011, the government announced late Wednesday (Feb 9).

The government said despite the summer drought Ukraine harvested 39.23 million tonnes of grain in 2010, including 16.8 million tonnes of wheat, 11.9 million tonnes of corn, and 8.5 million tonnes of barley.

Since the beginning of the current marketing year July 1, 2010, Ukraine exported to date a total of seven million tonnes of grain, including 2.6 million tonnes of wheat, 2.4 million tonnes of corn, and 1.9 million tonnes of barley.

As a result of the summer drought, Ukraine harvested in 2010 39.23 million tonnes of grain in clean weight, 14.8% less than in 2009.

In order to prevent a shortage of grain on the domestic market, the government imposed a quota of 2.7 million tonnes on the export of grain October 19 until December 31, including 500,000 tonnes of wheat, 200,000 tonnes of barley, two million tonnes of corn and 1,000 tonnes each rye and buckwheat.

Later the grain export quota was extended to the end of March this year and increased by 1.5 million tonnes, including 500,000 tonnes of wheat and one million tonnes of corn.