October 13, 2011

Ukrainian grain exports decrease

Ukraine's 2011/12 grain exports amounted 3.7 million tonnes as compared to last season's 4.5 million tonnes, according to the analyst UkrAgroConsult on Wednesday (Oct 13).

It said Ukraine exported 6.7 million tonnes of grain in the same period in 2009 and 6.6 million in 2008.

The consultancy quoted export data that showed the former Soviet republic exporting 201,000 tonnes of grain in the first nine days of October compared to 400,000 tonnes in September 1-9.

The volume included 50,500 tonnes of wheat and 150,900 tonnes of corn.

Ukraine, which plans to harvest up to 53 million tonnes of grain in 2011, plans grain export of a record 24-25 million tonnes in 2011/12 against 12.7 million in 2010/11.

But export duties, introduced by the government in July, have reduced the pace of shipments.

Ukraine parliament last week cancelled export duties for wheat and corn but kept in place the levy on exports of barley.

These need to be signed by President Victor Yanukovich and published to come into force.