November 30, 2006

Ukraine to resume grain export

Ukraine PM Victor Yanukovych said grain exports, which were suspended by the State Customs Service early November, could soon be resumed.

He said the decision was being taken in view of missing reliable data about amounts of grain at Ukrainian grain elevators. If he could be assured that state resources were full, he would not restrain exporters, he said.

The agrarian minister underlined that state resources had been closed. According to Vitaliy Lukianenko, first vice premier Mykola Azarov's adviser, now that the grain inventory has been completed, the experts would determine the amount of grain to be exported.

While doing so, the government would take care to maintain the nation's food security. According to grain traders, grain stocks were enough to last a month.

Ukraine, the world's sixth-largest grain exporter, earlier halted all exports in order to keep down bread prices, following forecasts for a reduced harvest this year.