"About ten million tonnes of grain have already been exported since the beginning of this marketing year. All types of grain crops are being exported, including wheat and barley. The active export of corn has started," he said at a briefing on Wednesday.

Melnyk said that Ukraine exported around two million tonnes of rapeseed in the first four-and-a-half months of this MY.

He said that the current global prices of grain are rather low, at around $195-197 per tonne, which has a negative effect on the domestic grain market.

Melnyk also said his ministry hopes that the grain market would revive in January-March 2009 and that "this revival will result in higher prices."

He said that the grain price traditionally increases in January.

According to experts, Ukraine will probably export at least 22 million tonnes of grain this marketing year.

According to tentative data from regions, Ukraine harvested 53.16 million tonnes of grain by November 12, or 73.5% more than in 2007.