According to official Rosstat data, Russian production of cereal grains totalled 60 959 560 tonnes in 2010, down from 97 110 960 tonnes in 2009. Production of all main types of grain fell significantly between 2009 and 2010. Wheat production totalled 41.51 million tonnes in 2010 (compared with 61.74 million tonnes in 2009), while production of barley totalled 8.35 million tonnes (down from 17.88 million tonnes in 2009), rye production was 1.64 million tonnes (4.33 million tonnes in 2009), cereal maize 3.08 million tonnes (3.96 million tonnes in 2009), and oats 3.22 million tonnes (5.40 million tonnes in 2009). Rice was the only major crop to record increased production, at 1.06 million tonnes in 2010 compared with 910 000 tonnes in 2009. The most marked decreases in cereal grain production in 2010 were recorded in the Privolzhskii, Central and Far East Federal Districts, where 2010 production levels were 30.14%, 45.03% and 51.14% of 2009 totals, respectively. A temporary ban imposed on the main types of cereal grain from mid-August 2010 onwards meant that export volumes were insignificant in the period from September 2010 to March 2011, with rice accounting for virtually all exports in this period. Imports were expected to total 0.95-1.3 million tonnes in the 2010-2011 season, with the bulk of these imports expected to occur after February 2011 as domestic grain stocks were exhausted. A decision of the Customs Union (covering Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) published on 1 March 2011 indicated that imports of wheat, rye, barley, oats and maize prior to 30 June 2011 would not be subject to import duties. Russian cereal grain consumption is forecast to total approximately 64 million tonnes in 2010-2011, approximately 11 million tonnes lower than in 2009-2010. The main reason for lower consumption is a decrease in utilization of cereal grains in animal feeds. Total cereal grain production was expected to increase again to approximately 88.17 million tonnes in the 2011-2012 season. Trends affecting cereal grain production, exports and prices in Ukraine and Kazakhstan in 2010-2011 are also briefly discussed, together with trends affecting international cereal grain markets and prices.
