Ukraine has used 66.5% of its wheat export quota for the 2020-21 marketing season, according to economy ministry data reported by Reuters.
As of Nov. 20, Ukraine had shipped 11.63 million tons of wheat for this season, which runs from July through June.
Ukraine officials have stated that the volume of wheat available for export this season must not exceed 17.5 million tons.
One of the world’s leading wheat exporters, Ukraine exported 20.5 million tons of wheat in 2019-20, but a severe drought has led to a decline in this year’s crop.
The data also showed Ukraine had exported 4.5 million tons of corn and 3.7 million tons of barley to take total grain exports to around 20.2 million tons.
Ukraine accounts for about 16% of global grain exports and sold 56.7 million tons of various grains to foreign buyers in the 2019-20 season.
Ukraine to reach its wheat export quota by spring
In October, traders told Reuters that Ukraine will likely reach its wheat export quota for the 2020-21 marketing year by next March or April.
The pandemic led some countries to impose quotas on grain exports for the current marketing year to ensure adequate domestic supplies.
Meanwhile, Ukraine grain production in 2020-21 could fall to 68 million tons, down from a record 75 million tons due to severe drought across most parts of the country.
Winter crop sowing includes 4.6 million hectares of winter wheat, or 76% of the expected area, and 628,300 hectares of winter barley, or 66% of the anticipated area.
By Oct 23, Ukraine had exported 10 million tons of wheat (about 57% of the quota), according to data from the Ukraine economy ministry. It also showed that the country’s overall grain exports have fallen by nearly 13% so far this season.
Source: World of Grain.
