Russian AgMin confirms 2023 grain harvest forecast raised to 130 mln tonnes

VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 12 (Interfax) - Russia's Agriculture Ministry has confirmed the increase in the forecast for the country's grain harvest to 130 million tonnes in 2023, the ministry said in a statement.

The previous forecast was for 123 million tonnes in 2023. President Vladimir Putin had stated the more optimistic estimate of 130 million tonnes during a press conference on September 4, following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, though the Agriculture Ministry did not comment on this at the time.

"[The president] said 130 [million tonnes], which means it will be," Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev told Interfax on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum 2023.

Patrushev said in the State Duma last week that 112 million tonnes of grain had been harvested by September 6.

Russia harvested a record 157.7 million tonnes of grain, including 104.2 million tonnes of wheat, in 2022.