April 23, 2012

In the marketing year that starts July 1, Ukraine's grain exports will rise to 22-24 million tonnes from 19-20 million tonnes in the current season, according to UkrAgroConsult.

Corn shipments will rise to 14-15 million tonnes in the year after July 1 from 12.5 million tonnes in the current season, Serhiy Feofilov, head of the Kiev-based researcher, said Friday (Apr 20) at a conference in the Ukrainian capital.

Wheat exports will be between 5-6 million tonnes, compared with 4-5 million tonnes, Feofilov said. Carryover stocks of wheat will be a record 7-8 million tonnes as of July 1, compared with 3.6 million tonnes a year earlier, according to the analyst.

The sunflower crop will rise to 9.5 million tonnes from 9.3 million tonnes in the year-earlier period, Feofilov said at a conference. The harvest may reach 10 million tonnes if weather conditions are favourable.

Sunflower oil exports will rise in the marketing year from September 1 to 3.25 million tonnes from 3.1 million tonnes in the current year ending August 31, Feofilov said. Soy exports will rise to 1.55 million tonnes from 1.4 million tonnes, according to the analyst.

Ukraine will harvest 46-47 million tonnes of grain in 2012, Feofilov said, adding that chances of the government limiting shipments are "low," at least until January 1 next year.

UkroAgroConsult estimated the 2011 grain harvest at 50 million tonnes, less than the state statistics office's figure of 56.7 million tonnes.