August 26, 2011

Ukraine may export 24 million tonnes of grain for 2011

Ukraine has the capacity to export 24 million tonnes of grain this year, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.

"Ukraine will sell 24 million tonnes of grain this year," Azarov said, while commenting on the situation with the establishment of quotas for Ukrainian grain as part of the signing of an agreement on the creation of a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU, which, in his opinion, is disadvantageous for Ukraine as an agricultural country.

The head of government noted that at the last round of talks with EU representatives, the sides had reached an agreement to increase quotas for grain exports from 20,000 tonnes to almost 100,000 tonnes as part of signing the agreement on the FTA with the EU.

Azarov noted that Ukraine would increase grain production and that this year's grain harvest was expected at about 52 million tonnes. "We have a huge export potential. And it will grow thanks to the reforms in the agricultural sector, which we launched only this year. "

The prime minister expressed hope that the agreement on the free trade area would be signed before the end of this year. "We are very optimistic, and we will sign the agreement on the free trade area with the EU by the end of this year," Azarov said. He noted that Ukraine was ready to reach a compromise for the sake of the Ukrainian economy entering the high-tech market.

Ukraine completed the harvesting of early grain and leguminous crops on an area of 11.2 million hectares and threshed 34.2 million tonnes of grain, with a yield being 30.6 quintals per hectare.

Farmers harvested 23.2 million tonnes of wheat (a yield of 34.7 quintals per hectare), 9.5 million tonnes of barley (25.6 quintals per hectare), and 1.4 million tonnes of rapeseed (17.3 quintals per hectare).