REUTERS
Forecast is worsened over a decrease in sown areas for wheat, as well as export suspension until September 2020.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts that Ukraine's wheat exports in the new marketing year (MY, July 2020 - June 2021) may reach 19 million tonnes, which is about 1.5 million tonnes down from current MY 2019-2020.
The forecast is worsened due to a decrease in sown areas for wheat, as well as the suspension of exports until September 2020, according to the USDA's May report.
Ukraine's wheat production in MY 2020-2021 is expected to reach 28 million tonnes, which is almost 1.2 million tonnes down from the previous marketing year.
At the same time, the USDA has raised its forecast for Ukrainian maize shipments abroad by 1 million tonnes, to 33 million tonnes. The USDA considers a possible record high maize harvest and increased emphasis on exports as main prerequisites for this.
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As reported, maize output in MY 2020-2021 may grow by almost 9% against MY 2019-2020. Relatively small domestic use of the crop will be stimulating maize exports.
Maize harvest in Ukraine in the new season is expected to reach 39 million tonnes, whereas in MY 2019-2020 it stood at about 35.9 million tonnes.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade, and Agriculture plans by July to determine shipments of wheat, whose exports may be limited in MY 2020-2021 to ensure the country's food security.
Ukraine approved the ceiling for wheat exports in MY 2019-2020 at the level of 20.2 million tonnes.
The economy ministry believes that a realistic forecast for Ukraine's grain harvest in 2020 is a 65-68 million tonnes gross yield.
The country's grain harvest in 2019 amounted to a record-high 75 million tonnes.