U.S. Agriculture Ministry increases 2019 wheat harvest forecast for Russia to 79 mln tonnes
MOSCOW. June 10 (Interfax) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has increased its forecast for Russia's 2019 wheat harvest to 79 million tonnes.
Russia is expected to remain the global leader in wheat exports for the third straight year, the USDA said.
Last month, the forecast was 77 million tonnes.
Last year, 72.1 million tonnes of wheat was harvested in Russia.
According to the report, the forecast was raised due to expectations of decent weather throughout the vegetating period, an increase in the area under winter-wheat cultivation, and lower-than-expected mortality for winter crops.
The forecast for wheat exports in the next agricultural year (July 2019-June 2020) has been raised to 37.5 million tonnes (last month: 36 million). The Russian Agricultural Ministry is forecasting exports of 36 million tonnes.
The Department of Agriculture's data do not take Crimea into account.