Ukraine: Ukraine’s barley production expected to remain flat in 2021-22

Ukraine is anticipated to see a jump in wheat and corn production in the 2021-22 marketing year while barley remains in line with the previous year, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Ukraine’s wheat production in the 2021-22 marketing year is estimated to be 26.8 million tonnes, 4% higher than the previous year. Domestic consumption of wheat mainly is used for food or flour purposes. The USDA said it has seen a downward trend in flour production recently as domestic flour millers were not able to compete with grain exporters in times of rising export wheat prices. The country also has experienced a decline in bread production over the past few years in line with a decreasing population. Wheat exports in the 2021-22 marketing year are expected to be 18.5 million tonnes, a 19% increase compared to the previous year.

Corn production in the 2021-22 marketing year is forecast to total 33.5 million tonnes, a 19% production jump compared to the 2020-21 marketing year. Based on increased production estimates, the USDA anticipates Ukraine’s corn consumption to be 6 million tonnes, including 4.8 million tonnes of feed consumption. Exports of the commodity are set to rise in the 2021-22 marketing year to 27.6 million tonnes, a 15% increase over the previous year of 24 million tonnes.

Ukraine’s barley production is anticipated to remain at 8.2 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year. According to the USDA, barley is utilized by farmers as an “insurance policy” against high winterkill rates as it is a low cost and maintenance crop. Despite this, producers’ preferences are shifting toward corn production. Consumption of the commodity is expected to be 4.1 million tonnes. The country is projected to export about 4.1 million tonnes of barley in the 2021-22 marketing year, a 2% dip compared to the previous year.

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