Ukraine's seaport wheat exports fell sharply to 144,000 tonnes for March 1-22, compared with 290,000 in the same period in February, a consultancy said on Friday.
The UkrAgroConsult agriculture consultancy, quoting data from ports, said an additional 90,000 tonnes of wheat were to be exported in the near future.
The consultancy said Ukraine's barley exports had fallen to 101,000 tonnes so far in March from 317,000 in the same period in February. Maize sales had fallen to 102,000 tonnes from 207,000 a month earlier.
UkrAgroConsult said a further 66,000 tonnes of barley and 55,000 of maize were likely to be exported by the end of March. The consultancy gave no reason for the decrease, but earlier this month it forecast a sharp decrease in exports after big shipments in previous months.
Possible changes in Ukrainian grain export rules could also depress sales.
Some exporters have already suspended purchases due to the possibility of export licences being introduced.
Agriculture Minister Oleksander Baranivsky said this week the government had decided to introduce export licences for all types of grain, but the Economy Ministry and Prime Minister Yuri Yekhanurov said no such plan was being considered for now.
Baranivsky said strong exports might mean a shortage of grain ahead of a new crop that could be down sharply.
Analysts have said Ukraine exported 4.7 million tonnes of wheat, 2.96 million of barley and 1.67 million of maize in July-February 2005/06.
They said exports would reach a record 11.865 million tonnes this season compared with 11.3 million in 2004/05.
UkrAgroConsult forecast wheat exports at 5.3 million tonnes, while sales of barley could be at 3.8 million and maize exports at 2.5 million.
Ukraine exported 4.3 million tonnes of barley. 4.3 million of wheat and 2.3 million of maize in the 2004/05 season.
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