Ukraine is expected to displace Russia this year as the largest Black Sea grain exporter.

Ukraine is expected to displace Russia this year as the largest Black Sea grain exporter. Russia is to export 42 million tons this year, 20% below last year’s record 52.4 million tons. By contrast, Ukraine is to export 49 million tons in the year that ends in June. Kommersant reports from Moscow that Russian Agriculture Ministry officials are calling exporters asking them to slow sales. Concerned about meeting domestic demand, Rosselkhoznadzor, the state food safety agency, is in go slow mode. stretching quality checks at ports from one day to five days or more. Yulia Melano, a food safety agency representative, is quoted saying longer checks respond to quality complaints from Indonesia, Vietnam and African countries.