Russia may double wheat imports due to drought

Major wheat exporter Russia may this year double its usually small imports of grain from neighbouring Kazakhstan and Ukraine to cover shortfalls due to drought in some regions and ensure minimum inventories, analysts and industry sources said. "During years of good harvests, Russia's wheat import volumes are not significant and cannot have a substantial effect on its (domestic supply-demand) balance," SovEcon agriculture analysts said.

"This year the situation is completely different and grain imports may become an important factor for the stability of the grain balance," they said on Sovecon's website.