November 13, 2013

Favourable weather lifts Russia's grain crop to over 92 million tonnes

Due to better weather condition in 2013, Russia's grain-growing regions are continuing to post higher yields, with harvest now amounting to more than 92 million tonnes.

According to the agriculture ministry, 92.6 million tonnes of grain was harvested up to November 11 on 41.2 million hectares of land, or 93.5% of the total area. Last year, the area was 2.5 million hectares less, with 73.3 million tonnes being harvested. The average yield to date is 2.25 tonnes/hectare compared with 1.89 tonnes/hectare on the same date last year.

The ministry said the wheat harvest to date is just above 53.7 million tonnes on 23.4 million hectares, two million hectares more than a year ago, with an average yield of 2.3 tonnes/hectare. On the same date last year, the wheat harvest was 39.7 million tonnes with an average yield of 1.86 tonnes/hectare.

The barley harvest to date is 15.9 million tonnes on 7.8 million hectares, 0.2 million hectare more than a year ago. The average yield is 2.03 tonnes/hectare. The barley harvest was 14.7 million tonnes with an average yield of 1.93 tonnes/hectare a year ago.

To date, corn harvest is eight million tonnes on 1.5 million hectares, 0.1 million hectare less than a year ago. The average yield is 5.28 tonnes/hectare. Last year, the corn harvest by the same date totalled 6.8 million tonnes with an average yield of 4.21 tonnes/hectare.

The agriculture ministry expects this year's grain harvest to rise to 88 million-90 million tonnes from 71.7 million tonnes in 2012 when crops were damaged by drought.

In the 2012-13 marketing year, Russia's grain exports fell to 15.69 million tonnes from 27.2 million tonnes in the previous marketing year. In the current marketing year of July 2013-June 2014, the agriculture ministry expects Russia's grain exports to rise to 18 million-20 million tonnes.