January 7, 2004

Ukraine Import 2.6 Million MT Grain In Second Half of 2003

Ukraine imported 2.6 million metric tons of grain since the start of the current marketing year July 1 to December 31, an agriculture ministry official said in Kiev Tuesday.

Wheat imports amounted to 92% of the total imported during the period, with rye import making up the rest.

The total December grain import was 500,000 tons, November 640,000 tons and October 570,000 tons.

Ukraine's total grain imports in the current marketing year is forecast by the agriculture ministry at 4.0-4.5 million tons.

Ukraine harvested in 2003 about 21 million tons of grain, compared with nearly 40 million tons in 2002. The fall in the harvest is blamed on adverse weather conditions.