Russia: Grain and Feed Update
FAS/Moscow decreased its July 2018 grain production forecast by 1 million metric tons (MMT) to 108.9 MMT. The grain crop forecast includes 68.5 MMT of wheat (1 MMT higher than the July forecast), 16.8 MMT of barley (down 0.7 MMT), 11.8 MMT of corn (0.9 MMT down), and 11.8 MMT of other grains and pulses. Unfavorable weather during spring planting, dryness in major grain producing areas during vegetation and an uneven pace of harvesting resulted in decreased production for major grains and lower yields compared to last year. Average wheat and barley yields are down by 12 and 20 percent, respectively, from 2017/18. Post estimates total Russian grain exports during MY2018/2019 at 41.4 MMT, or 3.9 MMT less than the previous forecast in July.
