Ukraine's grain export shows increase

As per latest data released by Agriculture Ministry, Ukraine exported 16.557 million tonnes of grain between the beginning of the current marketing year July 1, 2009 and March 2 this year compared with 16.307 million tonnes last year.

Grain exports in January totalled 1.7 million tonnes, in February 1.182 million tonnes and in the first two days of March 175,300 tonnes.

The ministry said wheat exports between July 1, 2009 and March 2 this year totalled 7.674 million tonnes, including 236,300 tonnes in February and 74,600 tonnes in March. Corn exports totalled 4.157 million tonnes, including 587,900 tonnes in February and 45,100 tonnes in March.

Ukraine's grain harvest in 2009 fell by 13.7% on-year to 46 million tonnes in clean weight, and the agriculture ministry expects grain exports in the 2009-2010 marketing year of 20 million tonnes, down from the 25.2 million tonnes exported in the previous marketing year.