Ukraine expects to harvest up to 50M tonnes of grain this year

“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 tonnes. This is, of course, less than in previous years, when we got used to the figures of 60-65 million tonnes, 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 at a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine–Ukrinform.

He added that the corn crop is estimated at up to 24 million tonnes, wheat – up to 16-20 million tonnes, barley – about 5 million tonnes.

Production of industrial crops, including rapeseed, is expected at about 2.5 million tonnes, soybeans – 2.5-2.8 million tonnes, sunflower may yield about 10 million tonnes.

“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 tonnes were exported in March, and up to 1.7 million in May, then in June we can potentially reach 2 million tonnes 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 tonnes 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 tonnes,” Vysotsky said.

According to the deputy minister, Ukraine has to export up to 4 million tonnes of grain a month to cope with such export volumes.

As reported, due to the war, the sowing wedge in Ukraine this year decreased by 25%. The winter crops of the new harvest are currently gathered after the most difficult sowing campaign in the history of the country.