Russia: to export 15 to 19 million tonnes of grains

Moscow / RU. (ami) In the current agricultural year (June 30, 2009 to July 01, 2010), Russian grain exports will probably total 15 to 19 million tonnes. Taking into account the forecasted production volumes of 85 million tonnes of grains, the maximum volumes of grain exports will total 20 million tonnes, declared Arcadiy Zlochevskiy, the president of Russian Grain Union, on August 12. Due to the shrinkage of markets and lowering of world grain prices, the export volumes will decrease compared to the previous year, he marked. Last season, Russian grain exports broke the record and totaled 22,4 million tonnes. Previously, Elena Skrynnik, the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, declared that the country plans to export nearly 23 million tonnes of grains to foreign countries in the current season. According to the head of Russian Grain Union, Russia will manage to export 20 million tonnes in the terms of the governmental support only (source: agrimarket.info).