Miller Magazine Issue: 153 September 2022

30 MILLER / SEPTEMBER 2022 NEWS Russia could reduce its planned 50 million tons of grain exports this year due to a possible yield decrease, Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev said. The possible decrease in the yield this year was caused by the late start of work in many regions due to the cold spring and bad weather, and there are also difficulties with the supply of foreign components for agricultural equip- ment, said Patrushev. “In total, this all creates risks to de- livering the 130 million-ton target. Of course, we will fully supply the domestic market and there will be no problem with it. However, we will have to revise the 50 million-ton export plan unless we achieve the planned volumes. This may negatively affect the global grain market,” he said. The Russian Agriculture Ministry previously predicted a grain harvest of 130 million tons this year, including a re- cord amount of 87 million tons of wheat, and is expected to export 50 million tons of grain. In 2021, Russia harvested nearly 121 million tons of grain, including about 76 million tons of wheat. Russia could export less grain amid possible harvest decline Despite the resumption of grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports under a UN and Turkish-brokered deal between Moscow and Kiev, the European Union (EU) intends to continue its efforts to create alternative freight routes for Ukrainian grain exports. Despite the re-opening of maritime routes, an immedi- ate return to pre-war levels of Ukrainian exports remains challenging and alternative export routes are still crucial, an EU Commission official said. European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean stressed that there was "room for improvement", in the alternative routes being worked on, citing a lack of freight wagons, barge operators and storage facilities for Ukrainian produce. According to the European Commission, Ukraine was the world's largest exporter of sunflower oil, the third largest exporter of rapeseed and barley, the fourth larg- est exporter of maize, and the fifth largest exporter of wheat before the beginning of Ukraine's invasion by Russia in February. However, hopes are currently pinned on the agreement with Russia enabling a resumption of regular Ukrainian agricultural exports via the Black Sea. According to EU figures, before the war, up to 5 million tonnes of grain passed through Ukraine's Black Sea ports each month. Reaching that level again in the near future is considered highly unlikely. EU plans to shore up alternative routes for Ukrainian grain exports