Grain imports halted this year due to higher prices and overestimated needs

On account of high prices, the Agricultural Market Agency (ARR) will import no more grain this year, and a tender for a 225 ton contingent to be imported on a duty-free basis was cancelled. There have been problems with the previous contingent announced in August. Although in effect until Nov. 15, data from the Ministry of Economy indicate that on Oct. 10 only 37.5% of wheat and 48% of other grains had been imported. Some experts say that the level of planned imports exceeds market needs. That could change, however, in the first few months of next year, since harvests have been smaller in comparison to last year by about 14.3% to 18%. The shortage of wheat is estimated at 3 million tons, with plans calling for the import of 400,000 tons of wheat from EU countries on duty-free basis during the first six months of the year 2001. It is difficult to estimate if that would be sufficient to meet market demand while keeping prices stabile.(Rzeczpospolita, p. B3; Reuters)