The Ministry of Economic Development of Ukraine worsens forecasts for grain and oilseed crops harvest

Experts from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade predict that due to an abnormal drought in the south of the country, the harvest of grain and oilseed crops in Ukraine will decrease by 1.5 million tons compared to last year and will not exceed 76 million tons.

The most difficult situation was in Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odessa and Kherson regions. Crops in Kharkiv and Donetsk regions were also significantly affected. The heat completely destroyed the crop on 386 thousand hectares, and on another 1.2 million hectares, the yield decreased by 30-50%.

The department predicts the following harvest:

• grains – 56 million tons, of which wheat – 21.5 million tons, corn – 28.5 million tons, barley – 5 million tons,
• oilseeds – 20 million tons, of which sunflower – 12 million tons, soybean – 5 million tons, rapeseed – 3 million tons.

The reduction in the harvest will lead to a reduction in exports, which in the new season is forecast at 40 million tons, although in the event of favorable weather it could amount to 43 million tons.

Previously, the association of analysts of the Ukrainian Agrarian Business Club predicted a decrease in the gross harvest of oilseeds by 11% to 18.8 million tons, and grain crops by 3% to 54.6 million tons.