The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine has once again updated its forecast for the gross production of cereals and oilseeds, according to ProAgro Group.

“Weather conditions remain favourable and allow the production forecast to be raised to 79.1 million tonnes. In particular, Ukrainian farmers are expected to harvest around 57.5 million tonnes of cereals and 21.6 million tonnes of oilseeds this year,” the ministry noted.

Although the total area sown with spring and winter cereals this year was 980,000 hectares smaller than last year, amounting to 10,895,000 hectares, weather conditions have contributed to an almost record-breaking yield of cereal crops (up to 52.1 cwt/ha), which allows for a significant increase in harvest volumes.

According to preliminary estimates by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in 2023 farmers will be able to harvest the following volumes of grain: wheat – 21.7 million tonnes, barley – 5.7 million tonnes and maize – 28.5 million tonnes.

Gross production of oilseeds will reach 21.6 million tonnes. The sunflower harvest is forecast at 13 million tonnes. Soybean production stands at 4.6 million tonnes.

In early spring 2023, the total gross harvest for the current year was forecast at 63.5 million tonnes, which was 13% lower than the 2022 figure. In June, after the harvest began, the forecast was revised upwards to 68 million tonnes, which was 7% lower than the 2022 figure. In early September, thanks to favourable weather conditions, there were good grounds for another upward revision of the forecast to 76.7 million tonnes