September 18, 2008

Russia heads for record grain harvest

Russia's grain harvest this year is likely to be 109.7 million tonnes in bunker weight and 100-102 million tonnes in clean weight, a record since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the agriculture ministry reported Wednesday (September 17).

Grain harvest this year will be larger than the 81.8 million tonnes in 2007 and 78.6 million tonnes in 2006.

The ministry said the corn harvest this year would increase to 5 to 5.5 million tonnes form 4 million tonnes last year and 3.7 million tonnes in 2006.

Russia harvested to September 16, 95.3 million tonnes of grain on 36.1 million hectares, with nearly 10.2 million hectares remaining to be harvested, which could add up to 15 million tonnes to this year's harvest, the ministry said.

The ministry also said sunflower harvest this year would increase to 6 to 6.5 million tonnes from 5.7 million tonnes in 2007, rapeseed harvest would increase to 700,000 tonnes from 600,000 tonnes last year, and soy harvest would increase to 750,000 tonnes from 700,000 tonnes in 2007.

Sugar beet harvest is seen falling to 25 to 27 million tonnes from 29 million tonnes last year.