Belarus to buy up to 500,000t of grain from Russia

"Last year we allocated about 4.2 million tonnes of grain for the animal husbandry. This year we are going to increase the volume to 5.9 million tonnes of our grain and we will buy up to 500,000 tonnes from the Russian Federation. When we process the full volume of corn harvest, we will see whether it is 500,000 tonnes or 400,000 tonnes. But we will not buy more than 500,000 tonnes," Leonid Zayats said.

There are 100,000 tonnes of milling wheat in the stock, which can be used for food purposes, he informed. "If such a need arises, we can grind wheat and export it in the form of flour," Leonid Zayats explained.

Speaking about the price at which Belarus is going to buy grain, Leonid Zayats referred to the resolution by the Council of Ministers that sets the price at RUB12,500 per tonne without VAT. "A lot of work has been done. We are in contact with the enterprises of the Russian Federation, and they are already supplying 500,000 tonnes at this price. This equals Br418 per tonne in Belarusian rubles. Plus Br9 of commission fees for the use of credit resources and for a letter of credit," he said.

Leonid Zayats noted that Br427 is practically the price for domestic grain in the domestic market. "We buy at cost price," the deputy prime minister said.