February 27, 2008

South Africa expects 48-percent jump in corn output

South Africa lifted its 2007-08 corn output 48.5 percent to 10.6 million tonnes from 7.1 million tonnes previously, making it the largest crop since 2004, official data showed Tuesday (February 26, 2008).

An I-Net Bridge poll had expected the Department of Agriculture's Crop Estimates Committee to peg production at 11.2 million tonnes.

The crop consists of 6.3 million tonnes of white corn, which is up 46 percent on last season, and 4.3 million tonnes of yellow corn - up 52.2 percent on last season.

The crop will be planted on 2.74 million hectares compared with 2006/07 season's 2.55 million hectares.

CEC spokesman Rodney Dredge said the reason for the large crop was good early season rains and if weather conditions remain favorable the production estimate would be lifted next month.

The committee also lifted its 2007-08 wheat production forecast to 1.844 million tonnes from 1.82 million tonnes predicted last month.

An average estimate of market players polled by I-Net Bridge expected the committee to leave production unchanged.

The area on which wheat would be planted was unchanged at 632,000 hectares.

Dredge said slightly better than expected yields in the country's main production areas was the reason for the increase.