Ukraine may run out of storage space for grain. The shortage is expected to reach 11 million metric tons this fall

Warehouses are filling up as the harvest progresses

The grain harvest in Ukraine is already well underway. So far, over 17 million metric tons have been harvested from approximately 34% of the planted area, and as the weeks go by, the amount of grain entering warehouses will grow rapidly.

The problem is that some of the grain is remaining in the country longer than usual. Export difficulties are causing available space in grain elevators to shrink just as new batches from the current harvest are entering the market. This year’s production may exceed 60 million metric tons, which is why the issue of storage is becoming one of the most important challenges for the coming months.

Storage space will start to run out in the fall

The greatest strain is expected in September and October. At that time, large quantities of wheat and barley may still be in storage, while the intensive corn harvest will begin. It is during this period that the shortage of storage space could reach as much as 11 million metric tons.

Solutions that allow grain to be temporarily stored directly on farms are therefore becoming increasingly important. How the situation develops will depend primarily on the pace of upcoming harvests and the ability to export grain that has already been harvested. If the pressure remains at current levels, the fall could be a particularly challenging period for the Ukrainian grain market.