Wheat Output In Russia/Ukraine Seen Sharply Lower In 2009

Wheat output in Ukraine will decline by 29.7% to 18.2mmt in 2009, according to the International Grains Council.

Ukraine produced 25.9mmt of wheat in 2008, and is expected to be the world's fifth largest exporter of the grain in 2008/09.

Wheat production in Russia meanwhile is seen dropping 21.5% to 50mmt, down from 63.7mmt in 2008, they say.

A combination of lower plantings, reduced inputs and a return to more normal yields is seen as being behind the decline.