KAZAKHSTAN (2 June)
Latest reports point to a reduced cereal harvest of 13.4 million tonnes, which is nearly 2.5 million tonnes lower than the harvest in 2002. Aggregate wheat harvest is now estimated at 10.8 million tonnes, nearly 2 million tonnes down on 2002. Barley harvest is seen to decline from 2.2 million tonnes in 2002 to 1.8 million tonnes in 2003. Significant winter kill due to harsh winter in the northern new lands of the country and smaller area planted with wheat have contributed to this year’s relatively low cereal harvest. Aggregate cereal exports during the 2003/04 marketing year are forecast at about 4.4 million tonnes, including 4 million tonnes of wheat and 389 000 tonnes of barley. Kazakhstan has been targeting non-traditional export markets such as the Middle East, North Africa and Brazil. Aggregate cereal exports in 2002/03 marketing year are now estimated at about 5.7 million tonnes.