December 31, 2008

Ukraine sees lower 2009-10 grain crop, exports

Ukraine's grain harvest and exports are likely to decline next year from the 2008-09 season, according to the UkrAgroConsult on Tuesday (Dec 30).

Grain harvest next year may reach 35.55 million tonnes, down from 48.1 million tonnes in 2008, while grain exports may fall to 15.27 million tonnes from 17.47 million in 2008, according to the consultancy.

Export volume may include 7 million tonnes of wheat, 6 million tonnes of barley and 2 million tonnes of corn.

UkrAgroConsult said it had raised the 2008 grain crop forecast to 48.1 million tonnes from the previous 47.7 million tonnes due to a higher corn harvest this year.

The Agriculture Ministry is expecting a crop of at least 51 million tonnes in 2008.

UkrAgroConsult said farms are likely to reduce the 2009 grain sowing area to 14.98 million hectares from 15.646 million in 2008, while grain yields could decrease to 2.55 tonnes per hectare from 3.2 tonnes this year.

The 2009 wheat crop is forecast to decline to 16.5 million tonnes from 24.2 million in 2008, while the barley harvest could fall to 10 million from 12.3 million.

UkrAgroConsult projected the 2009 corn harvest at 6 million tonnes compared with 8.4 million in 2008.