April 13, 2012

Russian grain exports may hit 26 million tonnes

This season, the grain exports of Russia are seen to be at record level of 26 million tonnes, one million tonnes lower than last month's forecast, said SovEcon, a Moscow-based agricultural researcher.

Russia's grain exports for the year ending June 30 will still beat the 2008-09 record of 23 million tonnes, according to Andrei Sizov Jr., managing director at SovEcon.

The country may harvest about 90 million tonnes in 2012-13, down from 94.2 million tonnes this season, Sizov said today by phone in Moscow. The crop is expected to be smaller because cold weather in Russia's main growing regions in the south has affected the condition of winter grains, he said.

Winter crops are expected to be 40 million tonnes, down from the multi-year average of 43.4 million tonnes, Sizov said.

Russia's grain shipments are seen between 20 million and 26 million tonnes in 2012-13, Sizov said.