May 6, 2009

Russia has shipped 18.07 million tonnes of grain in the current crop year, including 15.79 million tonnes of wheat and 2.26 million tonnes of barley, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

Though the ministry gave no comparisons with year-ago volumes, current export volumes exceed the record 15.8 million tonnes achieved in the whole of 2002-2003 crop year (July to June).

Russia has shipped 13 million tonnes of grain in the whole of 2007-08, including 11.6 million tonnes of wheat.

However, most exports took place before the government imposed a high export tariff on barley from the end of November 2007 and on wheat from the end of January 2008. Both tariffs were in force until July 1, 2008.

The country exported 1.87 million tonnes of grain in the first 29 days of April, including 1.42 million tonnes of wheat and 447,000 tonnes of barley, the ministry said on its website www.mcx.ru.

The ministry has said Russia may export a record 18-20 million tonnes of grain in this crop year.