KIEV (Reuters) — Ukraine’s 2013 grain harvest is likely to reach an all-time high of 56.06 million tonnes due to favourable weather which has increased yields of corn and wheat, analyst UkrAgroConsult said on Tuesday.
The consultancy, which had expected a grain harvest of 53.8 million tonnes a month ago, increased its outlook for maize by eight percent to a record 25.5 million tonnes, it said in a statement.
Corn occupies a special role for Ukraine’s grain since, unlike wheat and barley, more than half of it is exported, mainly to clients in North Africa and the Middle East.
The ex-Soviet republic is seeking to boost corn exports to Asian markets and especially to China, a new client.
UkrAgroConsult said Ukraine’s wheat crop could rise to 21.0 million tonnes this year.
The government said last week it expected the 2013 grain crop could total 58 million tonnes, including at least 26 million tonnes of corn.
