December 22, 2005

Ukraine's 2005/06 wheat ending stocks forecast at 5.3 million tonnes

Ukraine's Agrarian Policy Ministry forecast domestic grain ending stocks for 2005/06 at 8.9 million tonnes, including 5.3 million tonnes of wheat.

The ministry said domestic grain output in 2005 totalled 39 million tonnes, including 19.2 million tonnes of wheat.

As of Nov 15, grain stocks totalled 26.1 million tonnes, including 12.4 million tonnes of wheat.

Growing area of spring grains for 2005/06 is expected to rise to 10 million hectares, including 700,000 hectares of spring wheat, the ministry said.

Agribusiness information consulting company APK-Inform estimated that Ukraine's spring grains area reached 7.77 million hectares in 2005, including 460,000 hectares of spring wheat.