Wheat output was forecast at 25.1 million tonnes, a decrease of 1 million tonnes from 2017.

UkrAgroConsult said the forecast came despite winter wheat sowing having increased by 105,000 hectares to 6.27 million hectares.

The group’s forecast included a wheat yield estimate of 4.11 tonnes per hectare, slightly lower than the 4.21-tonnes-per- hectare yield achieved in 2017.

It also forecast a small drop in Ukraine corn output in 2018, down 200,000 tonnes to 25 million tonnes, reflecting a small drop in planted area.