January 20, 2004

 

 

Argentina's 2003-04 Wheat Output To Total 13.5 Million MT

 

Argentina will produce about 13.5 million metric tons of 2003-04 wheat, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange estimated over the weekend.

 

If the estimate holds it would put production up 10.9% from the previous year, according to the exchange. Expectations for greater production have risen in line with better-than-expected yields.

 

The average yield nationwide last week was 2.45 tons/hectare, up from 2.42 tons/hectare a week ago, according to the exchange.

 

"The recovery of the physical value of the crop is being supported by excellent yields in...Buenos Aires Province), where yields of between five and six tons/hectare can be found," the exchange said. "Around five million tons of wheat, equivalent to about 37% of the total crop, can be found in this area. This puts the volume of area harvested here up 47% from a year ago."

 

As of Saturday, farmers had collected 99.4% of the 2003-04 wheat crop, the exchange said.

 

This is up from 94.9% a week ago. The exchange did not compare the pace of collection with that of the previous year.

 

Around 5,444,100 hectares have been collected so far, putting production at 13,364,300 tons.

 

Argentina produced 12.16 million tons of wheat in 2002-03, according to the exchange.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated 2003-04 wheat output at 12.5 million tons.

 

The Agriculture Secretariat has estimated 2003-04 output at 12.4 million tons, compared with 12.3 million tons last year.

 

While yields year-on-year output will rise because of the better-than- expected yields, collectable area, currently estimated at 5.49 million hectares, is down from 5.83 million in 2002-03.