FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops and Shortages 06/02 - UKRAINE (3 June)
Official estimates point to a reduced cereal harvest of 34.4 million tonnes in 2002, which is some 3 million tonnes lower than the harvest in 2001. The estimated reduced harvest, despite an increase of about 1.3 million hectares in area, is due to extensive frost in winter and insufficient topsoil moisture to support spring crop germination. The cereal harvest this year includes some 19 million tonnes of wheat, 8.8 million tonnes of barley and 3.2 million tonnes of maize, compared with 21.3 million tonnes of wheat, 10.4 million tonnes of barley and 2.5 million tonnes of maize in 2001.
Cereal exports in 2002/03 marketing year is estimated at over 6 million tonnes compared with more than 8 million tonnes in marketing year coming to a close. This year’s exports have been boosted by lower tariffs on Ukrainian cereals in the EU.