Russia's grain exports to reach 20 million tonnes

Grain exports from Russia are expected to total 20 million tonnes in the 2009-10 season and at least the same amount in the following season, according to the president of the Russian Grain Union.

"This season, we're going to export 20 million tonnes of grains. Next season, everything depends on weather conditions but it won't be less than this season," Arkadiy Zlochevsky said.

Zlochevsky's comments came a day after Russia's agriculture minister Yelena Skrynnik forecast a 2010 grain crop of 97 million tonnes, a total that would match last year's harvest and leave 20 million tonnes for export next season.

Zlochevsky said Russia had already secured 10 million tonnes of grain exports for the 2010-11 season, which begins in July. He said wheat made up 90% of the grain exports expected for both seasons.

He had said in February that grains supplies would be 20 million tonnes by the end of the current season.

Egypt has bought more than half of its wheat from Russia this season, shrugging off a brief row over the quality of certain cargoes.

Zlochevsky said Russia's biggest grains customers by volume were in the Middle East, including Egypt, and South Africa, while it also sends grain to Latin America and Southeast Asia. He forecast Russia's total grains production at 97 million tonnes for the 2009-10 season, including 60 million tonnes of wheat.