Russia could export 1.9 mln tonnes of grain in June - expert
MOSCOW. May 10 (Interfax) - Russia could export around 1.9 million tonnes of grain in June of this year, according to a forecast by Igor Pavensky, the director of strategic marketing department at CJSC Rusagrotrans.
This figure is more than double that of June 2016 when 912,000 tonnes of grain were exported. Pavensky estimates that May supplies will total 2.2 million-2.3 million tonnes.
"Taking into account the resumption of supplies to Turkey and the weakening of the ruble's exchange rate, exports could total 2.2 million-2.3 million tonnes, which is more than the 1.77 million tonnes exported last year," Pavensky told Interfax.
He said that wheat exports in May could grow to 1.5 million-1.6 million tonnes, up from 1.16 million tonnes in May 2016. Barley could increase to 260,000 tonnes compared with 123,000 tonnes. At the same time, corn supplies will decline to 300,000-400,000 tonnes from 451,000 tonnes in May 2016.
Pavensky also said that according to preliminary applications, transshipments at deep-water ports in May of this year will increase to nearly 1.05 million tonnes from 730,000 tonnes a year ago.
A total of 321,700 tonnes has been shipped so far, according to data as of May 10. A total of 145,500 tonnes is being loaded while 316,000 tonnes are waiting to be unloaded from ships at anchor.
"Egypt is the main destination for transshipments in May 2017 with a total of 435,000 tonnes of supplies, or 41%," he said.
According to his forecast, from July 2016 to May 2017 a total of 16.5 million tonnes of grain could be transshipped through deep-water ports, which is 10% more than the same period in the previous agricultural year. Wheat transshipments could exceed 13.3 million tonnes, compared to 11.3 million tonnes a year before. Corn transshipments could total 2.28 million tonnes compared with 2.25 million tonnes. Barley could total 886,000 tonnes, less than half of last year's level of 1.56 million tonnes.
Pavensky also said that in April Russia exported 2.58 million tonnes of grain, up 13% compared to 2.28 million tonnes in April 2016. Wheat exports totaled 1.97 million tonnes compared to 1.42 million tonnes and barley totaled 283,000 tonnes compared to 207,000 tonnes.
He said that corn supplies declined more than 50% to 308,000 tonnes due to a drop in corn inventories of export quality in southern and central regions, as well as a sharp decline in exports to Turkey. In April 2016, a total of 616,000 tonnes of corn was supplied to Turkey.
Egypt continued to be the leading purchaser of Russian grain in April, buying 27.1% of exports. Nigeria bought 4.8%, the United Arab Emirates bought 4.4% and Vietnam bought 4%.
