October 18, 2011

Russia's wheat exports reach 2.8 million tonnes in August

Russia's wheat exports reached a record 2.8 million tonnes in August, the second month after the ban on grain exports was removed, according to customs data on Monday (Oct 17).

Analysts had estimated August wheat exports at 2.7 million tonnes.

Russia imposed a ban on grain exports from August 15, 2010 to July 1, 2011 to curb rising prices after the worst heat-wave on record.

However, it managed to export 34,600 tonnes of wheat during that period to some countries of the former Soviet Union, to which the ban did not apply, and 1,400 tonnes to non-CIS countries.

The government allowed grain exports in special cases under intergovernmental agreements, humanitarian aid, supplies to fishing and other ships in international waters and to diplomatic and other official missions abroad.

Russian imports of poultry and red meat rose in the first eight months of this year from the same period a year ago, the customs data showed.