Russia exported about 18 million tons of grain in 2011, in line with earlier expectations, First Deputy Prime Minister Victor Zubkov said Thursday.

Zubkov, speaking to farmers in Moscow, confirmed the figures provided by the Federal Customs Service, which said that in 2011 Russia exported 17.9 million tons of grain.

Russia's grain production has recovered from a severe drought in summer 2010, when grain production shrank to 60.9 million tons, lower by 37.3 percent compared to that of 2009.

In 2011, grain output reached nearly 98 million tons, a 52.7 percent increase against 2010, Agricultural Minister Yelena Skrynnik said on Tuesday.

The Federal Customs Service said the government intends to export 24 to 25 million tons of grain by next July.

Russia, one of the world's largest grain exporters, ships grain to some 84 countries.

Source: Xinhua

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