February 9, 2007
Both China soy and corn production expected to increase in 2007
Both soy and corn production are expected to increase in China this year, according to China's Grain and Oil Information Centre's latest forecasts for planting areas and output for China's major grain crops on February 7, 2007.
Soy production is expected to grow despite reduced planting areas.
For 2006, soy planted area is at 9.1 million hectares, down 5.1 percent compared with last year's 9.59 million hectares.
Soybean output for 2006 is estimated at 15.5 million tonnes, 5.2 percent below 2005's 16.35 million tonnes. The main reason for the decline is the shrinkage of planting area and lower yields in Heilongjiang province.
China's 2007 soybean planting acres is expected at 8.9 million hectares; falling 2 percent from 2006's as more area is converted to grow corn instead of soy. Assuming normal weather conditions, China's 2007 soy output would be at 15.6 million tonnes, up by 0.7 percent from last year's 15.5 million tonnes despite reduced areas.
Meanwhile, China's corn output is expected to increase 2.1 percent for 2007 as planting area increases 1.1 percent.
China' 2006 corn planting area is estimated at 27.05 million hectares, an increase of 2.6 percent from 2005 while corn output reached 142 million tonnes, increasing 1.9 percent mainly due to the favorable climate after the maturing period, which resulted in higher yields.
The next updated forecast from China' Grain and Oil Information Centre will be in April, at the start of the sowing period.
2007's corn planting area is estimated at 27.35 hectares, up 1.1 percent compared with last year's 27.05 million hectares, mainly because of the higher profits for planting corn. China's 2007 corn output was estimated at 145 million tonnes, up by 2.1 percent from last year.
China's corn and soy production forecast for 2006 and 2007
|
2005 |
2006 |
Change over 2005 |
2007 |
Expected Change over 2006 | |
|
Soy cultivation area (million hectares) |
9.59 |
9.1 |
-5.1 percent |
8.9 |
-2.2 percent |
|
Soy production (million tonnes) |
16.35 |
15.5 |
-5.2 percent |
15.6 |
0.7 percent |
|
Corn cultivation area (million hectares) |
26.34 |
27.05 |
2.6 percent |
27.35 |
1.1 percent |
|
Corn production (million tonnes) |
139 |
142 |
1.9 percent |
145 |
2.1 percent |
