Grain production in Russia in 2020 may reach 122.5 million tons, export - 45 million tons

This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev at the next working meeting with the largest Russian grain exporters, during which the participants discussed the preliminary results of the agricultural season and determined joint plans for the next period.

Increasing the volume of agricultural production and developing export potential are important areas of activity of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture. According to the Minister, this is impossible without systematic work to increase productivity. By crops in 2019, it became almost one and a half centners per hectare higher than in 2018. This year it is planned to maintain the momentum, including through the use of modern production technologies by farmers.

“Despite the difficulties caused by difficult weather conditions in a number of regions of the Russian Federation, as well as the spread of coronavirus, spring field work as a whole is going on normally. Some subjects have already begun harvesting. According to updated forecasts, the gross grain production in 2020 may reach 122.5 million tons, including wheat - up to 75 million tons. Based on this, we expect that grain exports, while maintaining the necessary volume of carry-over, will amount to 45 million tons in the 2020/2021 season, ”said Dmitry Patrushev. 

The Minister drew the attention of the participants to the event that in the prevailing socio-economic conditions, it was possible to ensure the stability of the domestic market and the price situation. The Ministry of Agriculture has taken a number of specific actions to ensure the food security of Russia, which is the main and invariable guideline of the department. In particular, from April 1, the export quotas mechanism was first introduced.

In addition, in order to prevent food shortages, the Eurasian Economic Commission imposed a temporary ban on the export of certain types of goods from the EAEU, including rye, rice, soybeans and sunflower seeds, until June 30, 2020. “We must fully provide our oilseed processors with the necessary amount of raw materials. Moreover, there are enough capacities for oilseed processing in Russia. According to the federal project “Export of agricultural products”, foreign trade in oil and fat products by 2024 accounts for 8.6 billion dollars. In this regard, it is necessary to stimulate the growth of oilseeds production and their processing on the territory of our country, ”the head of the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized, noting that with this in mind

According to a preliminary assessment of the Ministry, 40.6 million tons of grain were sent abroad in the current agricultural year, foreign trade is estimated at $ 8 billion. Markets remained traditional: Turkey, Egypt, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, African countries. The total grain export in the agricultural season 2019/2020 may amount to 43 million tons worth about $ 8.5 billion, which corresponds to the originally developed plans.