Estimate for China's 2009-10 corn supplies takes a downturn

A recent forecast has indicated that China's corn supplies in the crop year of 2009-10 would reach 14.87 million tonnes, slumping 32.53% from the previous year.

The China National Grain and Oils Information Centre (CNGOIC) predicted that domestic corn consumption would total 148.14 million tonnes in the 2009-10 crop year, up 4.21 million tonnes on-year, thanks to recovering demand from the feed industry.

It also estimated that the country's corn output would reach 163 million in 2009, down 1.8% from 2008, and the planting area would come to 30.46 million hectares, edging up 2%. The average yield was estimated at 53.51 kg/hectare, falling 3.7% from the prior year.

The CNGOIC updates its estimates once a month.