Andrey Sizov
18.04.2019
Growing yields are the key driver behind the increase of production of wheat in Russia. From 2009 to 2018 they increased by around 20%, to 2.7 mt/ha of the planted area. During this period the area was more or less stable, in 25-28 mln ha range. In 2017 thanks to almost ideal weather yields hit a new record high of 3.1 mt/ha and the country harvested a record crop of 86 mln mt (85.2 mln mt ex. Crimea).
To put this in perspective, the US harvests around 3-3.5 mt/ha and EU – 5-6 mt/ha on average.
Russian yields grow thanks to better agrotechnology (better crop protections, machinery, and seeds) and growing share of winter wheat which typically has significantly higher yields compared to spring varieties.
In 2019 we expect average yields to be close to trend and slightly below 2017 level. New wheat crop is currently estimated at 83.4 mmt (around 82.8 mmt ex. Crimea).
Russian wheat yields 2009-2018 (mt/ha planted area)
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