Page 137 - RusRPTOct22

9.1.6 Agriculture sector news
Russia has stolen grain from Ukraine amounting to $530mn since the full-scale invasion, the Kyiv Independent reported on October 3. A joint investigation by the Associated Press and PBS analysed satellite imagery and marine radio transponder data, as well as interviews with farmers, shippers and corporate officials to uncover a smuggling operation run by Russia and Syria. The investigation tracked three ships that made over 50 voyages from Russian-occupied territories to ports in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and other countries. Businessmen and state-run companies from both Russia and Syria, in some cases under sanction by the West, used falsified documents and deception to steal grain from occupied Ukrainian territories and sell products under false pretences to fund Moscow’s bloody war in Ukraine. The theft has contributed to Ukraine’s economic instability and weakened its critical agricultural sector as well as amounting to a war crime.
Russia’s grain harvest may total record 150mn tonnes this year, including 100mn tonnes of wheat, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting devoted to seasonal farm operations on Tuesday.
"According to experts, grain harvest may total 150mn tonnes. We have said 140, 145, later 147, whereas now the preliminary estimate is 150 (mln tonnes - TASS), and around 100mn tonnes of wheat, which will be Russia’s record result ever," he said, adding that this means the country will "cover its own needs on major items and receive an additional resource for boosting exports."
Russian farmers have already harvested around 125mn tonnes of grain
as of the start of September, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture wrote on its Telegram channel referring to the Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev. It was reported earlier that the Ministry of Agriculture expects Russian grain harvest in 2022 to reach 130mn tonnes.
Due to war and drought, world grain reserves will be reduced to a 10-year low. Despite the resumption of exports from Ukraine, there may still be a global grain shortage. This possibility results from smaller shipments from Ukraine and decreased harvests from other large producers due to weather conditions, writes Reuters. According to the International Grains Council, by the end of the 2022/23 marketing year, global corn stocks will only be sufficient for 80 days of supply, down 28% from five years ago. This would be the lowest level since the 2010/11 marketing year. EU grain production is expected to hit a 15-year low. This decrease will push the block to increase imports from Ukraine in the 2022/23 marketing year by approximately 30%. According to official estimates, Ukraine will harvest 25 to 27mn tons of corn in 2022 against 42.1mn tons in 2021. The diminished export of agricultural products from Ukraine this year, which represents only a portion of the pre-war level, and the risk of further supplies ceasing at any moment represents a further risk to
137 RUSSIA Country Report October 2022 www.intellinews.com