According to preliminary forecasts, the potential production of grain on the existing sown areas in Ukraine will be 48-50 million tons.
“In Ukraine this year, the end of sowing campaign actually coincided with the start of harvesting campaign. On June 9, the southern areas of Odesa region began harvesting winter barley. We already have the first indicators. According to preliminary forecasts, the potential grain production on the available areas could reach 48-50 million tons. This is, of course, less than in previous years, when we got used to the figures of 60-65 million tons, but if we take the previous decade, we had worse years. Therefore, nothing critical is expected at the moment,” First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Vysotsky said.
He added that the corn crop was estimated at up to 24 million tons, wheat – up to 16-20 million tons and barley – about 5 million tons.
Production of industrial crops, including rapeseed, is expected at about 2.5 million tons, soybeans – 2.5-2.8 million tons, sunflower may yield about 10 million tons.
“These data are based on average figures from previous years. Next, we will adjust the figures in the course of the harvesting campaign,” Vysotsky stressed.
According to him, now the main problem of farmers is well-established export logistics, although deliveries ramp up.
“Whereas 350,000 tons were exported in March, and up to 1.7 million in May, then in June we can potentially reach 2 million tons of exports. But comparing exports to gross production, we understand that the available logistics opportunities are not sufficient. Bear in mind that we still have up to 20 million tons of transitional residues from the last harvest. And before the start of the marketing season on July 1, farmers can potentially provide at least additional 30 million tons,” Vysotsky said.
According to the deputy minister, Ukraine has to export up to 4 million tons of grain a month to cope with such export volumes. (Ukrinform/Business World Magazine)