Ukraine's grain exports take a downturn

Ukraine's grain exports fell by 25% to 1.169 million tonnes in April from 1.567 million tonnes in March due a decrease in wheat shipments, according to agriculture consultancy UkrAgroConsult.

The consultancy said in a statement wheat exports had fallen to 341,000 tonnes in April from 561,900 tonnes in March. In April 2009, Ukraine exported 1.223 million tonnes of wheat.

UkrAgroConsult also said the country's grain exports in the first ten months of the 2009-10 season, running from July to June, totalled 19.487 million tonnes against 20.860 million tonnes in the same period in 2008-09.

"In the second half of the current season grain exports are lower than at the same time last year," it said. "In April 2009 Ukraine exported 2.221 million tonnes of grain that is 47% higher than in April 2010."

UkrAgroConsult has said exports could fall to about 20 million tonnes in 2009-10 from about 25 million tonnes in 2008-09.