Ukraine may export about 2 m tonnes of grain in January, says expert

Ukraine may export about 2 million tonnes in January 2013, according to President of the Ukrainian Grain Association Volodymyr Klymenko.

"Perhaps we'll export two million tonnes (of grain). January is always a difficult month," he told journalists in Kyiv on Tuesday.

In his words, grain exports from Ukraine in December 2012 are projected at about 3 million tonnes.

Since the beginning of the marketing year (July 2012), Ukraine has shipped over 13 million tonnes of grain onto the foreign market, he said.

"We see that by the end of the marketing year (June 2013), the export may hit about 22 million tonnes of grain," he added.

In his words, Ukraine is now exporting primarily maize.

As was reported, Ukraine's Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry estimates the country's export potential for the current marketing year at 23 million tonnes of grain.

Wheat exports from Ukraine have been suspended recently as the maximum possible level of wheat shipments set for the current marketing year at 5.5 million tonnes, as agreed between grain traders and the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry, was reached.

The ministry projects the grain harvest in 2012 at about 46.2 million tonnes against the record high yield of 56.7 million tonnes registered in 2011.