February 6, 2009

Brazil's 2009 grains harvest could decline 7.6 percent on-year to 134.7 million tonnes, according to the fourth 2009 harvest forecast by the Brazilian Census Bureau (IBGE).

IBGE said in January that this year's harvest could reach 137.3 million tonnes.

Total planted area is estimated to expand 0.8 percent on-year to 47.6 million hectares.

Soy output is projected at 57.8 million tonnes, 3.6-percent lower than in 2008, due to poor weather conditions. Planted area is seen increasing 1 percent, but soy yield is expected to fall 4.6 percent this year to 2,688 kg per hectare.