This marks a delay on the previous season tempo despite the strong export in January (monthly top result since 2010 – 2.39 mln tons). 26.18 mln tons of grains were exported from the country in the same period of 2015 – 2016. Wheat export was 19.24 mln tons in the mentioned period versus 19.58 mln tons a year earlier.

Grain export from Russia was between 1.8 and 2.0 mln tons in February versus 2.75 mln tons in February 2016. Egypt will be the main grain recipient with the already purchased 710,000 tons of Russian wheat, but this will not be enough to beat the March 2016 record of 2.77 mln tons. March 2017 grain export from Russia is projected at 2.5 – 2.6 mln tons.

Between August and September 2016, Russian grain export for the whole 2016 – 2017 season was projected at 37 mln tons, including 28 mln tons of wheat. The forecast was initially decreased in January to 36 mln tons and now once again to 35.1 mln tons, including 27 mln tons of wheat.

According to APK-Inform, between February 17 and February 23, 522,700 tons of grains were exported from Russian sea ports versus 317,900 tons a week earlier. The export consisted of 426,400 tons of wheat, 81,200 tons of corn and 15,100 tons of barley. The Sudan with 107,100 tons, Egypt with 66,100 tons and Vietnam with 64,600 tons were the biggest buyers.

According to APK-Inform, between February 18 and February 24, 729,300 tons of grains were exported from Ukrainian sea ports versus 731,900 tons a week earlier. The export consisted of 230,300 tons of wheat, 491,500 tons of corn and 7,500 tons of barley. Iran with 101,200 tons, Egypt with 70,700 tons and Spain with 60,000 tons were the biggest buyers. 

According to Ukrainian statistics service, as of February 1, 2017 sunflower stocks in the country were 5.44 mln tons, which is 47.4% more than last year (+1.75 mln tons or 3.69 mln tons). Soybean stocks are 815,400 tons (+71% or 476,600 tons). Rapeseed stocks were 87,900 tons (-25% or 116,900 tons).

Crop areas in Ukraine will remain unchanged from last year's level of 26.8 mln ha. Grains areas will be 14.4 mln ha, which is 54% of all areas.

As of February 27, 2017, 95% of areas sowed with winter grains in Ukraine (6.8 mln ha) have come up, Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture reported. 81% of the areas (5.5 mln ha) are in good or excellent condition while 19% (1.3 mln ha) are in poor condition. Winterkill loss is below 10% of the sowed areas.

Between the start of the season and February 22, 2017, 28.65 mln tons of grain were exported from Ukraine, including 13.33 mln tons of wheat, 10.53 mln tons of corn and 4.64 mln tons of barley. Wheat supply for Egypt has decreased by 18.5% to 1.06 mln tons, supply for Thailand went down by 12.5% to 1.4 mln tons and supply for Spain is down by 67% to 276,000 tons.