Russian grain reserves down 29.6% to 20.4 mln tonnes on March 1 - Rosstat
MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax) - Russia had 20.4 million tonnes of grain in its reserves on March 1, 2013, 29.6% less than on the same day last year (29 million tonnes), the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) reported on Tuesday.
The reserves were 9.7% less than on February 1, 2013.
Agricultural organizations, not counting small agri-businesses, had 10.3 million tonnes of grain on March 1, 30.3% less year-on-year and 12.4% less than a month earlier. Storage and processing organizations had 10.1 million tonnes, declines of 28.9% and 6.7% respectively.
Wheat inventory at those organizations was down to 6.669 million tonnes from 10.476 million tonnes a year earlier. Of that amount, 5.229 million tonnes was food wheat (8.405 million tonnes a year earlier).
Rye reserves amounted to 577,000 tonnes, down from 835,000 tonnes on March 1, 2012, of which 478,000 tonnes were food rye, down from 622,000 tonnes.
Rosstat said that millet reserves totaled 29,000 tonnes, down from 34,000 tonnes a year earlier. Buckwheat inventory was 65,000 tonnes, down from 77,000 tonnes, rice - 116,000 tonnes, down from 169,000 tonnes, and barley - 1.276 million tonnes down from 1.464 million tonnes.
Corn stocks were higher, rising to 1.124 million tonnes on March 1, 2013 from 906,000 tonnes a year earlier. Oats were also higher at 134,000 tonnes, up from 143,000 tonnes.
Reserves of other grains increased to 136,000 tonnes, up from 132,000 tonnes.
