December 7, 2004

Russia's 2005 Grain Exports Seen Up 38% on Year

Russian grain exports are expected to hit 9 million metric tons in 2005, up 38% on 2004's estimated around 6.5 million tons, said an official with the Agriculture Ministry on Monday.

The ministry's target is to increase Russia's annual exports to 17 million tons by 2010.

Russia exports grain mainly to Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt in North Africa, Lebanon, and Yemen in the Middle East and Azerbaijan and Georgia among former Soviet republics, the official stated, adding that the ministry also sees China as a major potential market.

Russia is expected to increase exports in 2005 with a better harvest this year and expectations of a good crop next year. The ministry puts 2004 grain output at around 76 million tons in clean weight, that is after cleaning and drying.