KAZAKHSTAN (20 September)
In Kazakhstan cereal harvest is nearly compete, except for maize and rice. Latest estimates point to an aggregate cereal harvest of about 12.4 million tonnes, which is some 2.5 million tonnes down on the good harvest in 2003 and nearly 3.5 million tonnes down on the bumper harvests in 2001 and 2002. Late frost in April in the Northern grain belt of the country damaged significant cereal crops causing a decline in yields. This year’s aggregate harvest includes some 10.2 million tonnes of wheat, 1.3 million tonnes of barley and 320 000 tonnes of maize.
Aggregate cereal export during 2004/05 marketing year is forecast at about 5.3 million tonnes compared with nearly 5.5 million tonnes during the 2003/04 marketing year. Wheat is, by far, the most important crop in the country both in terms of production and exports.