Ukraine's grain exports through Black Sea ports fell to 195,450 tonnes so far in November compared with total exports of 495,750 in October due to export restrictions, analysts said on Thursday.
UkrAgroConsult agriculture consultancy quoted data from ports as showing that Ukraine's wheat shipments fell to 128,150 tonnes so far in November from 258,900 in October. Shipments of barley fell to 37,000 so far this month from 221,100 in October.
The consultancy said 24 vessels with grain had been sent from ports so far in November while another 29 ships were waiting for loading. UkrAgroConsult noted that traders had ordered vessels to export in the near future 153,700 tonnes of milling and 61,700 of feed wheat and 101,500 of barley.
The government, which forecast a fall in the grain harvest to 35.1 million tonnes in 2006 from 38 million in 2005, introduced grain export quotas of 1.6 million tonnes for 2006, with the aim of avoiding a jump in local prices.
But despite issuing and distributing quotas, grain shipments have been almost blocked since November 2 as a result of prolonged confusion over the legality of shipments under the quota system.
Earlier this week, the agriculture and economy ministries issued two different draft resolutions, asking the government to revise the quotas and extend them through the 2006-07 season.