February 3, 2004

 

 

Argentina's 2003-04 Wheat, Ouput At 13.51 Million MT

 

Farmers in Argentina have finished collecting the 2003-04 wheat crop, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said over the weekend. The exchange has estimated total production at a higher- than-expected 13.51 million metric tons, compared with 12.16 million tons a year ago.

 

However, the exchange said this estimate is "provisional" and that a more complete review of yields could push the final production estimate higher.

 

The average yield nationwide was 2.47 tons per hectare, according to the exchange.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated 2003-04 wheat output at 12.5 million tons and the Agriculture Secretariat has put output at 13.2 million tons.

 

Though year-on-year output is up because of the higher yields, collectable area, estimated at 5.475 million hectares, is down from 5.83 million in 2002-03.

 

SUNSEED

 

Meanwhile, the exchange said that as of Saturday farmers had finished collecting 18.9% of the 2003-04 sunseed crop, putting production thus far at 733,895 tons.

 

Planted area totals 1.95 million hectares, though only 1.947 hectares will actually be harvested, the exchange said, citing crop damage.

 

The average yield so far this year is 1.99 tons/hectare while around 367,970 hectares have already been collected.

 

Total production could amount to 3.4 million tons if weather conditions improve and the crop receives more water, the exchange said.