Russia plans to prolong grain export ban after July 1, 2011

Russia will possibly prolong the grain export ban after July 1, 2011, if the country does not produce over 70 mln tonnes of grains next year, stated Arkadiy Zlochevskiy, the Head of Russian Grain Union, on December 20.

Russia sowed winter crops throughout the areas of 15.5 mln ha for the harvest-2011, as opposed to 18 mln ha a year ago. The Government is willing to increase spring crops sowing areas in order to compensate the decrease. However, there are certain problems with fertilizers, stated A.Zlochevskiy.

According to him, agricultural producers should increase fertilizers stocks in January, in order to be ready for the spring field works, otherwise the country will fall the sowing campaign.

Agricultural producers stock about 3 mln tonnes of grains, except of 60.5 mln tonnes of the officially harvested volumes, however it will not effect the essential impact on the market, due to the fact that the grain volumes are mostly stocked in the regions, where the production volumes level exceeds consumption.

A.Zlochevskiy forecasts that grain imports to Russia in 2010/11 MY will total 3-3.5 mln tonnes. The main import volumes is expected from the direction of Ukraine and Kazakhstan, however it is possible to purchase rye from Germany and barley from France.