June 21, 2007

Russia to export more wheat and barley in 2008

Russia plans to export 8 to 10 million tonnes of grains in 2008, mainly consisting of wheat and barley, according to Agriculture Minister Aleksey Gordeev.

Russia's gaining interest in cattle breeding has prompted domestic demand for barley, thus more wheat will be exported the following year, says Gordeev.

The agriculture chief also said wheat crop will be higher in 2007 as compared to 2006. Russia has current stocks of 1.5 million tonnes of wheat.

The Minister of Agriculture said a final decision on export volumes would be implemented in August or September.