Terminals are being built in several Russian ports in order to be able to export more grain. Over a period of 5 years, this should yield an additional export volume of 30 million. That ambition expressed agriculture minister Alexander Tkachev.
Various grain terminals are being built in Russia, including in the Far East, Trans-Baikal and Southern Russia. The agriculture minister opened a new loading station in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk on Tuesday, December 5.
Mainly wheat exports
Tkachev has big ambitions for the sector. In 5 years, the level of grain exports must be increased by 30 million tons. This brings annual exports to 70 to 80 million tons per year. It is expected that 2017 million tons of grain will be exported during the 2018/1 season, which ends on July 45. About 35 million tons of this is wheat.
“For the development of port facilities, we are building a terminal in Vladivostok, with a view to Asia, the port in Novorossiysk and a new terminal in Taman, Krasnodar,” the agriculture minister explained. "Together this results in an export plus of 30 million tons."
Grain harvest to new record
The ministry expects a grain harvest of more than 130 million tons this year, a new record. "It depends on the weather conditions and cultivation methods whether we can achieve this in 2018. Our job is not to let the national grain harvest fall below 120 million tons. We have our honor to uphold."