SovEcon Increase Russian Grain Production Estimates
SovEcon, the Russian research agency, has increased it's estimate for grain production in the country this season to 97 MMT, up from their previous forecast of 90-95 MMT, due to better than expected output in Siberia.
This represents a reduction of around 10% on last season's crop of 108.1 MMT.
Wheat production is now seen at 60 MMT, up from their previous estimate of 56.8-59.0 MMT, around 6% down on last year's crop of 63.7 MMT.
The wheat estimate is substantially higher than the USDA's figure, which was cut from 60 MMT to 55.5 MMT just last month.
The figures also blow the official Agriculture Ministry’s out of the water for the second year running, they still have the country's grain crop estimated at only 85 MMT.
More than 70 MMT of grain has been been harvested so far, according to the Russian Grain Union. They say that quality this season is better than last year, which seems to be being replicated across large parts of Europe and the FSU too.
Russian Grain Union President Arkady Zlochevsky is urging the government to subsidise grain exports this year on the basis that would increase sales, and allow them to continue doing so as and when they join the WTO.
With subsidies Russia could export around 20 MMT of grain this marketing year (from 22 MMT in 2008/09), without them this would fall to 15-16 MMT, he says.
This represents a reduction of around 10% on last season's crop of 108.1 MMT.
Wheat production is now seen at 60 MMT, up from their previous estimate of 56.8-59.0 MMT, around 6% down on last year's crop of 63.7 MMT.
The wheat estimate is substantially higher than the USDA's figure, which was cut from 60 MMT to 55.5 MMT just last month.
The figures also blow the official Agriculture Ministry’s out of the water for the second year running, they still have the country's grain crop estimated at only 85 MMT.
More than 70 MMT of grain has been been harvested so far, according to the Russian Grain Union. They say that quality this season is better than last year, which seems to be being replicated across large parts of Europe and the FSU too.
Russian Grain Union President Arkady Zlochevsky is urging the government to subsidise grain exports this year on the basis that would increase sales, and allow them to continue doing so as and when they join the WTO.
With subsidies Russia could export around 20 MMT of grain this marketing year (from 22 MMT in 2008/09), without them this would fall to 15-16 MMT, he says.
