Ukraine Grain Exports To Triple

Ukraine, which is the world's second-largest barley exporter,has said it expects overseas grain sales to triple in the marketing year that starts next month, easing two years of curbs caused by drought and record prices. Exports are expected to rise to between 13.5 million and 14 million metric tons in the 12 months starting July 1, compared with 3.7 million tons this year, according to Agriculture Minister Yuriy Melnyk in Kiev today. The grain harvest will be in the region of 37 percent to 40 million metric tons, after favorable weather, he said.

Of the 40 million-ton harvest, half will be wheat, 9 million tons barley and 9 million tons corn, the minister said. Melnyk reiterated that grain exports would continue to be subject to state-set limits.

Ukraine is expected to export 4 million tons of barley in the year ending September 2009, up from 1.7 million tons this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts. That ranks equal with Australia but behind the European Union. The Ukrainian agricultural ministry set forecasts today of 50 million metric tones of grain harvest for the next two to three years.

Ukraine's wheat exports in the year ending June 2009 will be 6 million tons, compared with 700,000 tons this year, the USDA estimates. Corn exports in the year ending September 2009 will be 2.5 million tons, from 1 million tons this year.