July 16, 2010

Ukraine lowers 2010 grain harvest forecast

The agriculture ministry recently revised down its grain harvest forecast for this year to 45 million to 45.5 million tonnes from an earlier estimate of 46 million to 47 million tonnes, while the country's grain export forecast in the 2010-2011 marketing year was reduced to 21 million tonnes from 22 million to 24 million tonnes.

The lower grain harvest estimate is attributed to adverse weather conditions, with continuous heavy rains in recent weeks which have affected grain quality, the ministry said on Thursday (July 15).

The agriculture ministry also said Ukraine's grain export in the current marketing year would amount to 20.7 million tonnes, lower than the 24.6 million tonnes in the 2008-2009 marketing year.

In 2009, Ukraine's grain harvest fell to 48 million tonnes from 53 million tonnes the year earlier. The country's own annual grain requirement is 26-27 million tonnes.