($291.70) a tonne.
"There is concern about the extension of Ukraine’s grain export deal after Russia's comments and a feeling the fall in recent days may have been excessive," one French trader said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday accused the West of "shamelessly burying" the Black Sea grain initiative that facilitates the export of Ukraine's agricultural products from its southern ports. "There are only around a couple of weeks left before the deal expires and some doubt is growing whether the corridor will be automatically extended," a German trader said. "There will have to be a decision in the coming week or at least an indication of constructive talks otherwise ship owners could be unwilling to commit to putting their vessels in Ukrainian ports after the time the agreement expires," he added. But heavy volumes of Russian grain offered cheaply on export markets, along with cheap sales' offers of Ukrainian grain for delivery after the current Ukrainian shipping deal expires were restricting price rises, traders said. "Russian exporters seemed to have no problems in arranging shipping for big volumes in Turkey’s huge barley tender today and the big Turkey wheat tender on Tuesday,” the trader added. “The competitive Russian grains are likely to provide very hard competition to the west EU for the foreseeable future.” Standard 12% protein wheat for March delivery in Hamburg was offered for sale at a premium of about 6 euros over the Euronext May contract. ($1 = 0.9445 euros) (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris and Michael Hogan in Hamburg; Editing by Susan Fenton, Kirsten Donovan)
