In Finland, about 2% of grain in enhanced reserves is of foreign origin
In Finland, about 2% of grain in enhanced reserves is of foreign origin, while approximately 98% of stocks are Finnish. YLE News reported this, citing a written response by Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto to a question from Member of Parliament Eerikki Viljanen.
Finland's National Emergency Supply Agency increased its grain stockpiles from a level equivalent to six months of population consumption to nine months. This was explained by the unstable security environment, including Russia's war against Ukraine.
According to Puisto, the minimum level of reserves calculated for six months of consumption consists entirely of grain of Finnish origin. The exact share of imported grain in the stockpiles had not previously been publicly disclosed.
Imports through contract partners
The minister confirmed that some contract partners of the National Emergency Supply Agency may import grain from abroad for reserve storage. The agency itself has not purchased grain outside the country and is not currently purchasing grain.
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Puisto noted that a temporary need for imports may arise due to the harvest and market situation, as well as within the market rotation of reserve grain. This may occur primarily in August and September, when stocks are at their lowest and the new Finnish harvest is not yet available. According to him, the priority is to use domestic grain whenever possible, but imports for reserves are not prohibited.
Criticism of delivery timing
Centre Party MP and agricultural entrepreneur Eerikki Viljanen called the share of imported grain small but criticized the timing of its delivery. He said that rye imports in August and September could lower the price of the Finnish harvest, as farmers sell grain during this period and cannot store the entire harvest until winter.
Viljanen called for using only Finnish grain in reserves and proposed expanding the range of storage operators to include large farms and farmers' associations. The largest operator of reserve grain storage is the fully state-owned company Suomen Viljava.
