The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has forecast grain production in Ukraine at the level of 61.79 million tonnes in the 2017-2018 marketing year (MY, July 2017 – June 2018), according to the USDA`s May report published on the department`s website.
Grain exports from Ukraine in the 2017-2018 MY could reach 38.31 million tonnes, the report said.
In particular, wheat harvest is forecast at 25 million tonnes. The Ukrainian agri-businesses could export 14.5 million tonnes of this crop in the next MY, according to the USDA`s estimates.
The harvest of fodder grain in Ukraine could reach 39.26 million tonnes. In particular, Ukrainian farmers are expected to produce 28 million tonnes of maize, while its exports could reach 20 million tonnes, as well as 7.4 million tonnes of barley (exports – 3.6 million tonnes).
In general, the shipments of fodder grain from Ukraine in 2017-2018 MY could amount to 23.81 million tonnes, the department said.
Grain harvest in Ukraine is forecast at 66.06 million tonnes in the current 2016-2017 MY. The output of fodder grain could reach 39.26 million tonnes, in particular, 28 million tonnes of maize and 9.9 million tonnes of barley. Wheat production is forecast at 26.8 million tonnes.
Grain exports from Ukraine in the 2016-2017 MY will amount to 41.96 million tonnes. In particular, Ukrainian farmers are expected to export 24.66 million tonnes of fodder grain (19 million tonnes of maize and 5.5 million tonnes of barley), as well as 17.3 million tonnes of wheat, according to the USDA.
Earlier, Ukraine harvested 65.95 million tonnes of grain and leguminous crops in 2016, which was 9.7% up from 2015. It was also a record for the whole period of the country`s independence. In particular, in 2016, the farmers harvested 26 million tonnes of wheat, about 28 million tonnes of maize for grain, 9.4 million tonnes of barley, 391,500 tonnes of rye, 499,000 tonnes of oats, 176,400 tonnes of buckwheat, 745,600 tonnes of peas, and 64,800 tonnes of rice, according to the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.
According to the results of the 2016-2017 marketing year (MY, July 2016 – June 2017), Ukrainian agrarians plan to export 41.6 million tonnes of grain, setting a record in the 2016-2017 MY. The previous record was registered in 2015-2016 MY when grain exports stood at 39.4 million tonnes, the ministry said.