Grain harvest in Ukraine may reach a record level

The harvest of grains and oilseeds in Ukraine in 2021 may reach record volumes and exceed 100 million tons.

According to the President of the Ukrainian Grain Association Nikolai Gorbachev, grains and oilseeds in Ukraine in 2021 may exceed 100 million tons. According to him, such a preliminary forecast can be made by analyzing the rates of the first gatherings in the southern regions of the country.

Gorbachev also noted that heavy rains in June had a greater positive effect on the development of crops, since they formed sufficient moisture reserves in the soil. At the same time, a much greater threat is posed by possible rainstorms during the harvest period, which can slow down harvesting and lead to loss of crops.

The Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Roman Leshchenko also shared a favorable forecast, confirming the words of Nikolai Gorbachev.

Also last week, a representative of the state Hydrometeorological Center, Tatiana Adamenko, said that Ukraine could harvest 75.8 million tons of grain this year. The harvest could include 37.1 million tons of corn, 28.5 million tons of wheat and 8.3 million tons of barley, she said.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Ukraine said it expects Ukrainian wheat production in 2021 at 29.5 million tons and exports of 20.5 million tons in 2021/22 (July-June). Total corn production is expected to be 37.3 million tons in 2021 and exports to 30.5 million tons, possibly higher depending on market conditions.

To recap, last year Ukraine harvested 24.9 million tons of wheat and 30.3 million tons of corn.

It is expected that in connection with the growth of the harvest, the volume of exports will also grow. Therefore, USM raising the question: is the desire to increase grain transshipment capacities justified, and how will this affect transshipment rates?
Read the answer in the analytical material: Grain in ports: Mykolaiv remains the busiest port in the new season