After a rocky start with a spring drought, Ukraine expects to finish this year with its second-largest grain harvest in its history – 64 million tons.

After a rocky start with a spring drought, Ukraine expects to finish this year with its second-largest grain harvest in its history – 64 million tons. The record was 66 million tons in 2016. This year, boosted by a bumper corn crop, production will be up 4.4%, reports the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry. During the current marketing year, which ends next June 30, Ukraine expects to export 42.5 million tons of grain, up 7.8% from last year. So far, 12 million tons have been exported. China’s Xinhua news agency, highlights the new forecasts noting that last year China was Ukraine’s largest corn importer, accounting for 16.4% of total exports, and the second-largest barley importer, accounting 19.3% of total exports.