New crop grain risks remaining in Ukraine's fields: UGA president Gorbachov

If the ports of the Black Sea and Azov Sea remain blocked by rashists until the new crop is harvested, grains may be left in the field, states the President of the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) Nikolay Gorbachov, Reuters writes.

He adds that today grain storage facilities in Ukraine are half-loaded.

There are some 30 mln t of grain stored in Ukrainian-held territory out of the capacity of around 55 mln t, Mykola Gorbachov told an International Grains Council (IGC) conference in London. He says there were 13-15 mln t of storage capacity in russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

Without access to its Black Sea ports, Ukraine would at best be able to export 20 mln t of grains next year, Gorbachov said, adding these would likely be more sunflower seeds than corn and wheat.

Gorbachov said the Turkey-Russia talks were not likely to lead to the security guarantees required to ship Ukraine's grains and instead called on the United States, Britain and France to provide a safe convoy for vessels carrying Ukraine's crop.

"I don't believe any company will load (Ukrainian) grain if the Russians sign something with the Turks. Insurance won't cover this risk. We need international guarantees, only in this case the grain will move," he said.

Grains export shipment from Ukraine as of June 3 totalled 47.1 mln t.

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