IKAR: Russian wheat prices down amid higher domestic supply

May 4 (Reuters) - Russian wheat export prices fell last week amid higher domestic supply from farmers willing to free up storage before the new crop arrives in summer, analysts said on Wednesday.

Russia, one of the world's largest wheat exporters, continues to export despite difficulties with logistics and payments caused by Western sanctions on Moscow over what Russia terms its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Prices for wheat with 12.5% protein content for supply in May from Black Sea ports were down by $10 to $370 free on board (FOB) at the end of last week, the IKAR agriculture consultancy said.

Sovecon, another consultancy, said Russia exported 780,000 tonnes of grains last week, citing data from ports, compared with 590,000 tonnes a week earlier.

"This is the highest weekly amount of wheat exports since mid-February," it added. Publication of import-export data by Russia's customs service remains suspended.

Sovecon expects the pace of wheat exports from Russia to slow down in coming weeks as the state export quota is being depleted, the rouble currency is strong amid capital controls and the export tax is rising.

In the sunflower oil market, Russia set its export tax at $525 per tonne for June, up from $372 per tonne in May, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

Spring grains were planted on 3.3 million hectares as of April 28 vs 3.6 million hectares a year ago as the sowing campaign is lagging in Russia's Central and Volga regions.

 Product:               Price at the end     Change from week
                           of last week:              earlier
 - Domestic 3rd class      16,075 rbls/t            -200 rbls
 wheat, European part          ($253.25)  
 of Russia, excludes                      
 delivery (Sovecon)                       
                                          
 - Sunflower seeds         41,250 rbls/t             -75 rbls
 (Sovecon)                                
 - Domestic sunflower     118,350 rbls/t            unchanged
 oil (Sovecon)                            
 - Export sunflower             $1,900/t                 +$50
 oil (IKAR)                               
 - Export sunflower       $1,900-2,000/t            unchanged
 oil (Sovecon)                            
 - White sugar,                 $885.2/t               +$26.5
 Russia's south                           
 (IKAR)                                   
 ($1 = 63.4750 roubles)