LITHUANIA (18 September)
Latest reports point to an aggregate cereal harvest of about 2.3 million tonnes this year, which is some 200 000 tonnes below the harvest in 2002. This year’s aggregate cereal harvest includes some 790 000 tonnes of wheat, 970 000 tonnes of barley and 420 000 tonnes of rye. Unfavourable weather conditions in winter and heavy rains just before the harvest compromised some of the winter crops this year. Lithuania is seen to remain a net cereal exporter with exports forecast at 118 000 tonnes and imports at just over 100 000 tonnes during the 2003/04 marketing year. During the 2002//03 marketing year aggregate cereal exports were estimated at 174 000 tonnes and imports at 141 000 tonnes.