Ukraine is expected to have record corn production and exports following the 2012 crop, according to a USDA report released this week. 

The Grain and Feed Annual produced by Foreign Agricultural Service staff projects this year’s corn production at a record 23 million metric tons, up from last year’s revised estimate of 22.8 mmt. Exports could hit 14.5 mmt, also a new high after last year’s 14 mmt.

But planted acres are expected to jump 21%, from 3.54 million hectares to 4.3 million hectares (or from 8.75 million acres to 10.6 million acres).

Part of the increase is due to corn and other spring planted crops replacing winter wheat and winter barley that were damaged by a dry fall and cold winter. 

“Corn exports in…2012/13 are expected to reach an all time high of 14.5 mmt,” the report says. “Ukraine has been increasing its exports of corn in the recent years and has become a significant global market player. Egypt, Iran, Israel, Syria and Spain have become the largest buyers of Ukrainian corn.”

The full report is available at:

http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Grain%20and%20Feed%20Annual_Kiev_Ukraine_5-2-2012.pdf