KIEV, UKRAINE — Exports of Ukrainian grain amounted to 9.65 million tonnes since the beginning of the marketing year (starting July 1, 2011). The outflow rose 42% compared to 6.79 million tonnes as of Jan. 4 last year, reported the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine on Jan. 6.

In 2011, Ukraine cropped the record amount of grain in 20 years since declaring independence. The unprecedented harvest, over 55 million tonnes of grain, as well as the removal of the export taxes and quotas contributed to the export boost in 2011. Last year Ukraine was fourth on the list of world's leading grain exporters, following the U.S., E.U., and Canada.

As of Jan. 4, the shipments of wheat came up to 2.49 million tonnes, including 1.33 million tonnes of milling wheat and 1.16 million tonnes of feed grain. Shipments of Barley accounted for 1.87 million tonnes; corn exports were 5.18 million tonnes, according to Korrespondent. These numbers are 2.86 million tonnes higher than the index for the same date of the previous marketing year (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011).

As of Dec. 27, Ukraine has already contracted 4.1 million tonnes of wheat: 3.65 million tonnes of milling wheat, 0.47 million tonnes of feed grain, 2 million tonnes of barley and 9.7 million tonnes of corn. The Ministry of Agricultural Policy and Food expects that exports of grain crops during 2011-12 marketing year would amount to 26 million tonnes of grain, wheat making up to 7.8 million tonnes.

In the marketing year 2010-11 wheat export of Ukraine landed the country the 6th position on the global market, according to the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food. Moreover, this year Ukraine became the third corn supplier in the world, surpassing Brazil and being the second runner-up to the U.S. and Argentina. Overall, in 2011 Ukraine increased its agricultural export by 30%.