Ukraine could export 13.5 mln tonnes of grain in 2008-09 marketing year
(Interfax) -- The Ukrainian Grain Association, which unites the country's grain companies, believes Ukraine could export about 13.5 million tonnes of grain in the 2008-2009 marketing year, Volodymyr Klimenko, president of the association, told Interfax.
"According to our figures, wheat exports could total 7 million tonnes, barley - 4 million tonnes and corn - about 2.5 million tonnes," he said, noting that Ukraine exported about 860,000 tonnes of grain in May and could ship more than 1 million tonnes of grain abroad in June.
Grain traders working in Ukraine are experiencing difficulties in exporting due to the global drop in wheat demand, he said.
Leonid Kozachenko, president of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, which represents public agricultural organizations uniting producers, processors and exporters, said he was afraid of a possible drop in prices for grain from the new harvest on the domestic market during the harvest campaign and has asked the government to take measures to prevent this situation.
"A number of factors could cause a sharp decline in domestic grain prices," he said, noting that the most important factors are a reduction in transfer grain stocks from the 2007 harvest, which totaled about 7 million tonnes on June 1, as well as a decline in global grain demand.
Grain stocks at agricultural enterprises (apart from small-sized ones) and grain storage and processing companies totaled 6.7 million tonnes as of June 1, up 44% from the same date of 2007, the State Statistics Committee reported. Wheat stocks totaled 3.5 million tonnes on June 1, up 20%.
The Ukrainian grain harvest is to total more than 40 million tonnes in 2008 compared to 29.3 million tonnes in 2007.
"According to our figures, wheat exports could total 7 million tonnes, barley - 4 million tonnes and corn - about 2.5 million tonnes," he said, noting that Ukraine exported about 860,000 tonnes of grain in May and could ship more than 1 million tonnes of grain abroad in June.
Grain traders working in Ukraine are experiencing difficulties in exporting due to the global drop in wheat demand, he said.
Leonid Kozachenko, president of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, which represents public agricultural organizations uniting producers, processors and exporters, said he was afraid of a possible drop in prices for grain from the new harvest on the domestic market during the harvest campaign and has asked the government to take measures to prevent this situation.
"A number of factors could cause a sharp decline in domestic grain prices," he said, noting that the most important factors are a reduction in transfer grain stocks from the 2007 harvest, which totaled about 7 million tonnes on June 1, as well as a decline in global grain demand.
Grain stocks at agricultural enterprises (apart from small-sized ones) and grain storage and processing companies totaled 6.7 million tonnes as of June 1, up 44% from the same date of 2007, the State Statistics Committee reported. Wheat stocks totaled 3.5 million tonnes on June 1, up 20%.
The Ukrainian grain harvest is to total more than 40 million tonnes in 2008 compared to 29.3 million tonnes in 2007.
