WASHINGTON, DC, US — Following a record-breaking wheat harvest in 2019-20, Ukraine’s production is forecast to be 5% lower in the new market year, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

 Wheat production is estimated at 27.6 million tonnes for 2020-21, down from 29.1 million tonnes in the previous year. The forecast is based on available 2019 winter crop planting data and the assumption that spring planting will be at the same level as in 2019. Yields are also forecast at a similar level, the USDA said.

Wheat exports in 2019-20 are estimated to increase 22% from last year to 19.6 million tonnes. For 2020-21, exports are estimated to drop to 18.1 million tonnes.

Major destinations for Ukrainian wheat exports included: Indonesia (2.6 million tonnes), Egypt (around 2 million tonnes), Philippines (around 1.6 million tonnes) and Bangladesh (around 1.3 million tonnes).

Corn production is expected to drop 2% from 35.8 million tonnes in 2019-20 to 35.2 million tonnes in the upcoming market year, the USDA said.

“Corn remains a popular crop for Ukrainian farmers as it fits well into existing crop rotations while offering higher yields compared to other grain crops,” the USDA said.

Ukrainian corn exports for 2020-21 are forecast at 28 million tonnes, which is 2% lower than the 2019-20 estimate, which totaled 28.6 million tonnes.

The major destinations were the EU at 16 million tonnes; China at 3.8 million tonnes; Egypt at 3 million tonnes; and Turkey at 2.4 million tonnes.