Russian grain inventory grew 18.5% to 38.3 mln tonnes by March 1 - Rosstat
MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - Russia's grain inventory stood at 38.318 million tonnes on March 1, 2018, up 18.5%, or 5.979 million tonnes compared to the same date last year, Russia's Federal Statistics Service (Rosstat) said.
Grain stocks were down 9.2% compared to February 1, 2018.
Grain inventory belonging to agricultural organizations grew 17.8%, or 3.131 million tonnes, to 20.688 million tonnes while procurement and milling enterprises had 17.629 million tonnes, up 19.3% or 2.848 million tonnes.
Procurement and milling enterprises boosted wheat inventory 25.2% to 13.598 million tonnes, including food wheat which grew 25.2% to 9.654 million tonnes.
Stocks of barley grew 11.1% to 1.708 million, rye - 18.5% to 557,900 tonnes including suitable for food purposes - 17.7% to 498,100 tonnes. Reserves of oats increased 10.8% to 14,000 tonnes and buckwheat - 62.2% to 106,900 tonnes.
At the same time, corn stocks fell 10.6% to 1.289 million tonnes, rice - 65.9% to 37,000 tonnes and millet - 69.7% to 9,800 tonnes.
Stocks of other grain crops grew 32.6% to 176,310 tonnes.