IKAR in Mass and Industry Media

Russia’s Sugar Mills Closing Because of Inefficiency, IKAR Says

Bloomberg

2008-07-02 By Maria Kolesnikova

July 2 (Bloomberg) -- Russia's four southern regions, the country's main crop-growing area, may harvest 37 percent more winter wheat this season after plantings expanded and last year's drought wasn't repeated.

The winter crop in the Krasnodar, Stavropol, Rostov and Volgograd regions may expand to a record 22 million metric tons, said Dmitry Rylko, director of the Institute of the Agriculture Market Studies, also known as IKAR.

Farmers started harvesting last week, reaping 1.4 million tons at an average yield of 4.2 tons a hectare (2.47 acres) by June 30, the Agriculture Ministry said yesterday. The government expects a harvest of ``at least'' 85 million tons, of which 15 million tons may be exported.

Russia's grain harvest may reach 92 million tons, including 54 million to 55 million tons of wheat, should the weather remain favorable, Rylko said by telephone from Moscow. That may mean exports of 20 million tons, he said. Still, overseas sales may be curbed by plans to add 5 million tons to state reserves and increased competition from other grain producers, Rylko said.

``The competition will be harsh,'' Rylko said. Ukraine last month said it expects overseas grain sales to triple after forecasting a 37 percent expansion in the harvest.

Russia's Grain Union, comprising of the nation's biggest producers and traders, expects a harvest of 87 million to 89 million tons, Vice President Alexander Korbut said today by telephone, reiterating a May 12 forecast.

01.02.10

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