Russia cuts 2016–17 grain export forecast to 35 mln tonnes

MOSCOW, Apr 3 (PRIME) – Russia has reduced its grain export forecast in the 2016–2017 agricultural year lasting from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 to 35 million tonnes from 37 million tonnes, First Deputy Agriculture Minister Dzhambulat Khatuov told reporters on Monday.

“We think that the volume of supplies will remain at last year’s level,” Khatuov said.

Director of the crop department of the ministry Pyotr Chekmaryov said that Russia will export 35 million tonnes of grain including 25–30 million tonnes of wheat.

On March 17, Russian exporters complained to the Agriculture Ministry that Turkey had stopped license issuance on imports of wheat, corn, sunflower seed meal and oil. Kommersant business daily reported that Ankara wants to introduce a 130% duty on the imports.

The Turkish government denied any prohibitions but head of the Turkish agricultural exporters’ association Zekeriya Mete said that the Economy Ministry had tacitly introduced “a new rule” for Russian wheat in retaliation for Russia keeping restrictions on imports of Turkish goods.

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said earlier in April that Russia will remain the leading wheat exporter in the 2016–2017 agricultural year although the supplies will be lower than in the previous season.

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