27 Aug 2010 14:15

Ukraine shelves grain export quotas, for now

KYIV. Aug 27 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian government is not planning to impose grain export quotas for now.

"We're not planning to introduce the quotas for the time being," Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Slauta told reporters.

Grain traders operating in Ukraine have suggested introducing the quotas from September 15. "We'll wait until September 15, and if nothing happens the market can work freely," Slauta said, adding the quotas might yet be imposed in the event of sharp price rises in the international grain market or speculation in Ukraine itself.

The government had been discussing limiting grain exports to 2.5 million tonnes, including 1.5 million tonnes of wheat, 1 million tonnes of barley and 0.01 million tonnes of rye.