According to the State Statistics Service, in 2015 Ukraine produced slightly more than 347 thousand tons of groats, down by 1% YoY (350 thousand tons). At the same time, some segments demonstrated significant decline of production volumes.
In 2015 the production volumes of buckwheat groats decreased by 25%, to 68.3 thousand tons, against 90.9 thousand tons in the previous year. The production of peeled barley groats significantly decreased (by 18%): 13 thousand tons, against 16 thousand tons. The production of millet groats decreased by 11% (to 16.5 thousand tons, against 18.6 thousand tons).
In 2015, oats (up by 13%, to 2.4 thousand tons) and wheat groats (up by 11%, to 54.5 thousand tons) demonstrated the greatest increase in groats production.
Reduction of the planted areas and harvest volumes of groat crops, as well as decreasing of the domestic demand for the products, are the main reasons for decreasing of the production of groats in Ukraine. In the season-2016/2017, favorable weather conditions resulted in the growth of production of many alternate crops, which will have a positive influence on the rates of groat crop processing. Also, it may increase the supplies of Ukrainian grain by-products to foreign markets. (APK-Inform/Business World Magazine)