Ukraine: Grain harvest may exceed last year’s thanks to good weather

Ukraine's 2014 grain harvest may exceed last year's record output of 63 million tonnes thanks to favourable weather this winter and spring, weather forecasters said on May 30.

Ukraine has helped to drive wheat prices higher this year as the market fretted about political unrest disrupting grain trade. But good crop conditions, regular export shipments and the election of a new president have eased concerns. There was greater concern about crops in Russia after recent hot and dry weather.

Hot and dry weather will dominate the European part of Russia in early summer, the head of Russian weather forecaster Hydrometcentre said on May 29, though crops may gain short-term relief from rain forecast this week.

The International Grains Council on May 29 raised its forecast for the European Union's wheat crop, including durum, to 144.9 million tonnes from a previous projection of 144.8 million, with an upward revision for France of 38.3 million from 38 million.

04 June, 2014