January 9, 2009

Brazil's 2009 grain harvest will decrease 5.9 percent on-year to 137.3 million tonnes, said the Brazilian Census Bureau (IBGE) on Thursday (Jan 8).

This is the third estimate for 2009 from the IBGE, which projected this year's harvest to reach 140.2 million tonnes in December.

In the new forecast, IBGE said 2009's total planted area will increase 0.8 percent on-year to 47.6 million hectares.

Soy production is projected to decline 1.9 percent on-year to 58.8 million tonnes, while planted area rose 0.4 percent to 21.4 million hectares. Soy is expected to yield 2.3-percent less this year, or 2,753kg per hectare.