The grain belt that runs from southern Ukraine through Russia's northern Caucasus and then east to western Kazakhstan is one of the world's largest. These three former Soviet grain producers are among the top 11 wheat producers in the world. Together, they have accounted for almost 14 percent of the world's wheat and more than 21 percent of global wheat exports over the past five years, despite export cutoffs in 2010. 071312 Map - FSU Wheat Belt Customers for Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan include Turkey, Iran, Jordan, Egypt and other major wheat importers. Almost all of the wheat grown in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan is winter wheat, since spring grains do not mature well in these mostly cold climates.