June 18, 2024

Ukraine faces corn production decline amid extreme weather, conflict impact

Ukraine anticipates a decline in corn production and exports this year, attributed to adverse weather conditions during planting and ongoing agricultural challenges stemming from the conflict with Russia, Mykola Gorbachov, president of the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA), announced, Reuters reported.

Speaking at the International Grains Council's annual conference, Gorbachov highlighted that unusually high temperatures during April planting had significantly impacted yields, leading to projections of reduced corn production. UGA forecasts indicate a decrease to 25.5 million metric tons for the 2024/25 season, down from 29.6 million tonnes in the previous year, with exports expected to decline from 26 million to 20.5 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, the International Grains Council (IGC) projects Ukraine's corn exports at 20.5 million tonnes for the upcoming season, slightly lower than its production estimate of 27.7 million tonnes.

Ukraine, which harvested a record-breaking 42.13 million tonnes of corn in 2021, according to US Department of Agriculture data, has been grappling with agricultural land loss due to the conflict with Russia. Gorbachov noted that Ukraine has lost six million hectares of agricultural land out of a total of 25 million hectares, significantly impacting agricultural output.

According to USDA forecasts, the reduction in harvested corn area is forecasted to reach a 13-year low of 3.8 million hectares in 2024/25. This highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Ukraine's agricultural sector amidst geopolitical tensions and adverse weather conditions.

-      Reuters