Despite the record production volumes of wheat in the world (742.8 mln tonnes, according to the USDA estimations), as well as reduction of domestic crops planted areas in terms of adverse weather conditions, Ukraine still keeps its positions in the TOP-10 of the global exporters of the grain. In 2015/16 MY, Ukraine harvested 26.5 mln tonnes of wheat, and supplied more than 16.9 mln tonnes of the grain on foreign markets, which moved Ukraine to the fifth position in the rating of global countries-exporters.
In 2016/17 MY, the forecast of wheat harvest totals 26 mln tonnes, but the export rates demonstrate somewhat higher rates compared with the previous season. According to APK-Inform estimations, in July-January of the current MY Ukraine exported nearly 12.8 mln tonnes of wheat, up 16% compared with 2015/16 MY (11 mln tonnes). APK-Inform analysts forecasted the general volume of wheat exports in 2016/17 MY at the level of 15.2 mln tonnes, down 10% compared with the previous season, due to rather low beginning stocks. At the same time, the first half of the season demonstrated record export figures in terms of development of new sales markets. Also, in the current season the global market of wheat has a record forecast of exports - 179 mln tonnes, and according to the USDA estimations Russia will take the leading positions, which Russian export destinations often meet the Ukrainian ones. Such factor requires in-depth analysis and development of competitive advantages of the Ukrainian exports to save its positions on the global market.
In the modern conditions, not only the harvest volumes, grain qualitative parameters, demand of the global market and the price factor play the key role in increasing of the exports, but also the ability of traders to adapt to a changeable environment of the grain trade and new requirements of buyers, in terms of high supply of raw materials and severe competition of other countries-producers.
The Sixteenth international conference Grain&Maritime Days in Odessa (May 23-27, 2017) will focus on the results of the grain season-2016/17, the forecasts of grain production and exports in the new season-2017/18, destinations of Ukrainian grain supplying, and the further development of logistics, etc.
