March 6, 2006

Russia's July-February grain exports hit 10.1 million tonnes

Russia's grain export between the beginning of the current marketing year--July 1 2005 and Feb 28--totalled 10.1 million tonnes, compared with 6 million tonnes in the corresponding period in the previous marketing year, according to the agriculture ministry's press service Friday.

Wheat export increased to 8.3 million tonnes from 5.1 million tonnes, while barley export increased to 1.4 million tonnes from 640,000 tonnes.

The agriculture ministry expects grain export in the current marketing year to increase to 12.4 million tonnes from 9.1 million tonnes in the previous marketing year.

Russia's 2005 grain harvest in 2005 was 78.1 million tonnes in clean weight, about the same amount as in 2004.