KIEV (Reuters) — Ukraine’s grain harvest is likely to reach an all-time high of 56.06 million tonnes because of favourable weather that has increased yields of corn and wheat, said UkrAgroConsult.
The consultancy, which had ex-pected a grain harvest of 53.8 million tonnes a month ago, increased its outlook for corn by eight percent to a record 25.5 million tonnes.
Corn occupies a special role in Ukraine’s grain sector because, un-like wheat and barley, more than half of it is exported, mainly to North Africa and the Middle East.
The country is seeking to boost corn exports to Asian markets and especially to China, a new customer.
UkrAgroConsult said Ukraine’s wheat crop could rise to 21 million tonnes this year.
The government said it expected this year’s grain crop to total 58 million tonnes, including at least 26 million tonnes of corn.
