Drought could force Russian grain imports

MOSCOW, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The severe drought in Russia's grain belt could make the country a net importer of grain for the first time in 11 years, The Moscow Times reported Thursday.

Russia has not imported more grain that it exported since the 1998-99 marketing season but the same hot, dry conditions that caused widespread wildfires this summer, have parched grain crops.

The bad weather hit a year after Moscow set a goal of doubling grain exports before 2025.

Imports of barley, a key ingredient in beer, would rise to 700,000 tons from 50,000 tons, SovEcon, an agricultural market researcher, said. Beer prices had already increased after a threefold excise tax went into effect Jan. 1.

Russia has suspended exports of grain and may have to import corn to feed livestock.

Russia's Agricultural Ministry forecast imports of 4.5 million metric tons of grain from July to next June, the Times said.