March 27, 2013

Russia's crop share may be affected by continual frost conditions

Russia could lose a heavy share of crops in 2013 as serious frost conditions may last till the beginning of April, according to the country's Federal Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Service.

Currently, adverse weather conditions are witnessed in the Southern and North-Caucasus federal district as well as in the Central Part of Russia. The first two districts, Russia's main grain growing and exporting areas, harvested 24.6 million tonnes of grain, or about 35% of the national crop this season, according to state statistics.

At the beginning of March, the statistics service forecast that about 9.5% of this year's winter crops across the country could be destroyed by frost and dampness, compared to the yearly average of 8% to 8.5%. At the moment, it is predicted that Russia could lose up to 13% or more of the harvest.

"The main question is what will be the actual winter crop's loss. Risks are high," Andrey Sizov, managing director of the Moscow-based SovEcon consultancy commented. "The ministry's target of 95 million tonnes is looking more unrealistic."

Russia was the world's third-biggest wheat exporter in 2012.