MOSCOW: Russia looks set to boost exports and supply more countries with wheat fed to livestock after a record crop and weather damage left a bigger amount of grain unfit for human consumption. The nation shipped out about 272,000 metric tons of feed wheat in 2015-16 and the amount may be several times that this season, with some grain going to new markets such as South Korea, according to grain inspection firm SGS SA.
Russia is expanding wheat sales and supplanted the U.S. as the top exporter last season after the weak ruble and good growing conditions led to more supplies. In recent months, the quality of grain suffered in some areas as rains and hot spells lowered protein content and caused fungal disease, meaning there’s more wheat that’s only suitable for livestock.
Even with more exports, Russia is still expected to be a small part of the feed-wheat market, and in the past has typically consumed all of its feed grain. Ukraine is a major supplier of the wheat variety and globally, countries will export about 20 million tons this year, according to the International Grains Council.
