October 30, 2009
Ukraine hikes grain export forecast by 25 percent
Following a continuing strong run in grain exports, Ukraine has hiked its grain shipment forecast by 25 percent.
The increase is despite doubts over the ability of next year's crop to replenish silos.
Ukraine's agriculture minister Yuri Melynk raised his estimate of 2009-10 exports to 20 million tonnes, from 16-17 million tonnes, still well below the 25.3 million tonnes in 2008-09.
The revision comes amid lingering doubts over the potential for next year's grain harvest, after drought got winter plantings off to a poor start.
Mykola Vernytsky, director of ProAgro agriculture consultancy, said that winter wheat production could halve.
A recent USDA report said conditions for some winter sowings were alarmingly unfavourable, as a lack of soil moisture hampered the emergence and establishment of winter crops in significant areas of southern and eastern Ukraine.
But the USDA also highlighted the resilience of winter wheat.
Kiev-based analysis group UkrAgroConsult pegged the 2010 wheat harvest at 17-18 million tonnes, down at worst 15 percent year on year.
