Kazakhstan has pledged to lift a ban on grain exports on September 1, but warned that bumper harvests anticipated in Russia and Ukraine this year could clog transport routes it uses to access western grain markets.

 

The world's sixth biggest grain supplier banned exports in April in an effort to contain soaring domestic food prices.

 

Announcing the decision to end the ban, Karim Massimov, the Kazakh prime minister, said: "As long as domestic grain supplies are guaranteed, we will not introduce bans in future."

 

Akylbek Kurishbaev, the Kazakh agriculture minister, said a surge in Russian and Ukrainian grain exports anticipated this autumn could prevent Kazakhstan from accessing Black Sea and Azov Sea ports and railway lines serving the ports.

 

Russia is expected to harvest 90m tonnes of grain this year, 17 per cent more than in 2007, while Ukrainian production could jump by as much as 40 per cent to 40m tonnes, he said.

 

"As a result of intense grain loadings by Russian and Ukrainian traders between September and December, Black and Azov Sea ports will be fully loaded until the new year, hindering Kazakh grain exports," he said.

 

Kazakhstan sold just under half of last year's record 20.1m tonnes harvest to world markets where its grain is prized for its high gluten and protein content.

 

Mr Kurishbaev said Kazakhstan would produce 16m to 17m tonnes of grain this year, if weather conditions were favourable.

 

It plans to boost annual grain yields to at least 22m tonnes within the next few years.