The Ukrainian Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has proposed that the Ukrainian government cancel the corn export quotas that were to be in place in the country until June 30, 2011.
The ministry’s press service reported that after analyzing balance sheets of grain stocks, the ministry came to the conclusion that Ukraine can supply two million tonnes of corn to foreign markets by the end of the current marketing year (July 2010-June 2011).
"After the analysis, there are ending stocks of two million tonnes of corn by the end of 2010/2011 marketing year, which allows the canceling of corn export quotas in the near term," reads the press release.
Other grain export quotas that are also in effect until June 30, 2011 should be retained until then, but not prolonged thereafter, the ministry said.
In early October 2010 the Ukrainian government introduced grain quotas for the period until Dec. 31, 2010. The quotas were extended late in 2010 until March 31, 2011.
The overall size of the quotas was increased by 1.5 million tonnes of grain, to 4.2 million tonnes.
Late in March 2011, the government decided to extend grain quotas for one more quarter, having increased the quota for the export of corn by two million tonnes.
Agriculture Minister Prysiazhniuk announced then that the quotas would be distributed at an auction.
The parliament on April 8 passed a corresponding bill authorizing the cabinet to sell grain export quotas at an auction.
However, the president has not signed the bill into law yet.
