Russia might export over 2.6 mln tonnes of grain in Aug - expert
MOSCOW. Aug 16 (Interfax) - Grain exports from Russia might top 2.6 million tonnes in August 2012, the general director of LLC ProZerno, Vladimir Petrichenko, told Interfax.
He told Interfax that exports in July came to 2.05 million tonnes of grain and 1.26 million tonnes in the first half of August.
"Bearing in mind the growing trade, it is possible expect exports to top 2.6 million tonnes for August," he said.
According to preliminary stats, Russia delivered 1.05 million tonnes of wheat to foreign markets in the first half of August, as well as 204,000 tonnes of barley, 5,000 tonnes of ray, and 1,000 tonnes of corn.
Nonetheless, export trends are behind last year's results. For instance, immediately after the end of Russia's grain embargo, the country exported 2.65 million tonnes. Exports in August 2011 came to 3.48 million tonnes.
Petrichenko said that export trends in 2012 are in line with the grain market's situation and high demand for Black Sea grain.
The expert earlier told Interfax that grain exports for the current agricultural year (July 2012-June 2013) might come to 10 million-15 million tonnes. The gross harvest of grain is forecast at 80.8 million tonnes in 2012 compared to 94.2 million tonnes in 2011.