Russia to export 37.5 mln tonnes of grain in current farm year - Agriculture Ministry
MOSCOW. Feb 1 (Interfax) - Russia will export 37.5 million tonnes of grain in the current agricultural year (July 2016-June 2017), head of the Agriculture Ministry's crop farming department Pyotr Chekmarev said at the All-Russia Agricultural Conference in Moscow on Wednesday.
Russia exports grain to more than 100 countries, he said, adding that producers need to pay special attention to the quality of that grain.
Russia exported 33.9 million tonnes in the previous farm year.
Chekmarev said Class 3 wheat exports last year accounted for just 24% of grain exports, Class 4 wheat - 28% and Class 5 feed wheat - 48%. "This is not the grain we should be taking to the global market. No one will be waiting for us with such grain," he said.
Russia harvested 119.1 million tonnes of grain in 2016, up from 104.8 million tonnes in 2015. The Agriculture Ministry expects a good harvest this year as well, but hasn't provided a forecast yet.