August 12, 2015
Ukraine's corn harvest to be cut by one million tonnes due to heat
Ukraine's corn harvest could be cut by at least one million tonnes due to a severe heat in the country, according to weather forecasters and traders. This will result in a drop to no more than 23 million tonnes in 2015, compared to 24 million tonnes as originally planned.
There were also concerns that rapeseed crops in 2016 will be affected as well.
Tetyana Adamenko, the head of the agriculture department for the state weather centre, expected about 10% to 15% of heat-affected corn crops will be extracted for fodder use since "there is no reason to thresh it".
While a declining output is imminent, traders believed that Ukraine's corn exports for the current season will not be affected, given high ending stocks coupled with a drop in local consumptions. The country is expected to export at least 15-16 million tonnes of corn.
In July, the agriculture ministry of Ukraine forecasted an overall harvest volume of about 26 million tonnes of corn for 2015.