OREANDA-NEWS. On 14 July 2008 was announced, that in late June, 2008, the next scheduled IX International Grain Round “Grain Market – yesterday, today and tomorrow”, held by the Russian Grain Union, took place in Tekirova, Turkey. This Round is acknowledged one of the most important and representative annual forums where different specialists take part – top managers of agricultural companies, agroholdings, grain storing and processing enterprises, banks and other financial institutes, local and overseas operators on the grain market, transport and insurance companies. This time representatives from over 130 companies from Russia, far and near abroad took part in the event.

During the plenary sessions such questions were discussed as implementation of state programmes to support and promote the agricultural sector, problems of the grain market and their proposed solutions. One of the experts for grain processing who made a presentation “Russian flour market. Export prospects.” was Andrey Igoshin, OJSC PAVA Chairman of the Board of Directors. He presented an analytical paper on export prospects for the coming years. According to Andrey Igoshin, the present-day flour market is undergoing significant changes – rapid decrease of flour consumption by bread and bakery producers, growing demand for flour from pasta, confectionery and other food industries such as pelmeni, pizza and pancakes production.

“A lot of Russian grain-processing companies have production capacities by far exceeding consumption needs of the local flour market; on the other hand, there is a deficit of grain processing products in the world. This creates opportunities for Russian companies to enter international markets”, commented PAVA Chairman of the Board of Directors.

During this discussion the experts agreed that in 2008 the record high volume of flour export could be achieved. Thus, SovEcon analysts forecast growth of export volume up to 600 000 tonnes.

The tendency to increase export volumes could be clearly seen in the activities of PAVA, the largest grain processor of Siberia and the Far East.

In 2005-2007, the company demonstrated positive dynamics of export sales. Export shipments record started in 2005, when 67 tonnes of high and extra grade flour and semolina was sent to Georgia. In 2006 the volume of export amounted to 535 tonnes. In 2007 the grain processor made a breakthrough and became the leader in Russian flour export, having shipped 37, 8 thousand tonnes of its products.

Following the results of 5-days work at the International Grain Round, its participants adopted the final document which included not only their papers and presentations but also forecasts made by expert analysts.