Russia's grain harvest to total 89 mln tonnes in 2013 - Grain Union
MOSCOW. Nov 21 (Interfax) - Russia will harvest 89 million tonnes of grain (net weight) in 2013, the Russian Grain Union said.
"Our forecast is 89 million tonnes," Grain Union chief Arkady Zlochevsky said on the sidelines of the national forum of independent chains in Moscow on Thursday.
The gross harvest will total 93.9 million tonnes (bunker weight), Zlochevsky said.
Thirty percent of the corn crop remains to be harvested, he said. So far over 9 million tonnes has been harvested.
Grain exports in the current agricultural year will total 20 million-25 million tonnes.
"The analysts are saying 20 million tonnes plus. I believe, depending on the spring, on how it shapes up, even 25 million tonnes would be a reasonable figure," Zlochevsky said.
The Agriculture Ministry forecasts the 2013 grain harvest at 90 million tonnes (net weight) and exports in the current season at up to 20 million tonnes.