Russia's decision to curb grain exports may help Ukraine to sell its grain at a higher price and Kiev does not plan to implement any similar restrictions, Deputy Agriculture Minister Andriy Dykun said on Thursday. "There is a chance to sell our grain at a higher price," Dykun told Reuters.
"At the moment we can't have any kind of export restrictions. The Russians have taken a determined decision and I understand them as they have less and less food," he said.
"Not all demand will necessarily come to our market. We'll have to see over a few days how the global market reacts and where prices go."
Russia, one of the world's main wheat exporters, took steps to restrict grain exports in an attempt to cool domestic prices, as it tackles a financial crisis linked to plunging oil prices and Western sanctions.
Russia and Ukraine have similar customers for their agricultural exports and often any decision by Moscow to limit exports is followed by similar step by Kiev.
However, this time Ukraine, which expects record grain exports in the 2014/15 July-June season and remains the biggest grain exporter in Black Sea region, plans to benefit from Russia's move.
"We can expect a growth in wheat prices on the world market and increased demand for Ukrainian grain," UkrAgroConsult agriculture consultancy said in a report.
Ukraine plans to harvest a record 64.4 million tonnes of grain this year and sees exports of more than 33 million this season.
The former Soviet republic has exported 17.36 million tonnes of grain so far this season, including 7.75 million tonnes of wheat, 5.87 million tonnes of barley and 3.55 million tonnes of maize.
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