August 26 2003, 11:30 Interfax

Russia to export 5 mln t of grain this season

In 2003 Russia will harvest 70 million tonnes of grain and is ready to export 5 million tonnes of it, Russian Agriculture Minister Aleksey Gordeyev told journalists on August 25.

"Our grain crop forecast in 2003 remains unchanged - 70 million tonnes", he said.

He said harvest conditions this year were rather complicated. The works, especially in the European part, are lagging behind the schedule due to unfavourable weather by approximately 14 days. Harvest is planned to be completed on October 1 to 5.

Russia was nevertheless unable to refuse from grain imports, Gordeyev said. But this was connected not with the shortage of Russia's own grain, but with geographical location of some its regions.