June 14, 2012

Ukraine's 2012-13 grain exports likely up despite lesser harvest

Despite the expected fall in the harvest this year to 47.2 million tonnes from 2011's 56.7 million tonnes, Ukraine is likely to export 26 million tonnes of grain in the 2012-13 marketing year (MY) (July-June), up from the current MY's estimated 23 million tonnes, the agriculture ministry said Wednesday (June 13). 

The ministry said the expected increase in grain exports in 2012-13 would be due to high grain stocks left over from the current marketing year (MY). The ministry expects grain stocks in Ukraine at the end of the current MY June 30 to total 12.6 million tonnes compared with 6.2 million tonnes on June 30, 2011. The total supply of grain in the Ukrainian domestic market in the 2012-13 MY is forecast at nearly 60 million tonnes, while Ukraine's own annual domestic grain requirement is 28 million tonnes.

The ministry said it expected wheat exports in the 2012-13 MY to total 8.3 million tonnes including 6.54 million tonnes of milling wheat. Wheat harvest this year is expected at 14.15 million tonnes including 8.5 million tonnes of milling wheat. Barley exports are estimated at 1.7 million tonnes, harvest at 6.5 million tonnes. Corn exports are forecast at 15 million tonnes and corn harvest at 23.8 million tonnes.

Ukraine has exported 20.7 million tonnes of grain so far in the 2011-12 season which runs from July to June, major Ukrainian grain trader HIB said on Wednesday (June 13), citing official data. HIB said in a report the volume included 5.049 million tonnes of wheat, 13.088 million tonnes of corn and 2.424 million tonnes of barley.