Russia: Quality of Wheat Crop in Russia in 2016
On February 13, 2017, the Russian Center for Grain Quality Assessment (the Center) at the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (VPSS) reported to the Russian Federation Council on the quality of the Russian grain crop in 2016, specifically on the quality of Russian wheat. Wheat is Russia’s main grain both in domestic consumption and in exports. Wheat production in 2016 reached a record high of 73 million metric tons (MMT), for 63 percent of the total grain crop. According to the Center, the volume of food quality wheat (Classes 3 and 4) reached the record level of 51 MMT, or 71 percent of wheat crop. However, both the total volume and the percentage share of wheat Class 3 to total wheat production in 2016 was at the lowest level in the last five years: 16 MMT, or approximately 22 percent of the total wheat crop.
