Grain harvest expected at 18.5-19 million tons

Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Ministry expects the grain harvest to reach 18.5-19 million tons (net weight), Tengrinews reports, citing Vice Minister Muslim Umiryaev as saying. “The harvesting campaign is complete in 97% of crop lands. The bunker weight of grain stands at 20.5 million tons, which means the net weight is expected at 18.5-19 million tons”, the Vice Minister told a briefing at the Service for Public Communications. According to him, the grain export potential given the last year’s carryover makes up 9-10 million tons. He elaborated that since July 1 Kazakhstan has exported about 2.5 million tons of grain. For the last marketing year Kazakhstan has sent abroad a total of over 7 million tons. In 2012 Kazakhstan’s grain harvest amounted to 14.7 million tonnes. According to the State Agency for Statistics, grain production in Kazakhstan in 2011 totaled 26.9 million tons (net weight), with exports potential standing at 15 million tons. The 2010 grain harvest figure totaled 12.2 million tons (net weight). Grain harvest of 2009 made up 22.7 million tons (bunker weight).