April 4, 2012

Brazil projects 2012/13 record corn output

The corn production of Brazil for 2012/13 is estimated at a record 68 million tonnes, with exports anticipated at 12.5 million tonnes.

Wheat and rough rice production are forecast to recover planted area lost to production in 2011/12 and to reach 6.1 million tonnes and 13.5 million tonnes, respectively.

Corn production area is estimated at 14.3 million hectares, a 3% increase from 2010/11 but a 7% decrease from USDA's official 2011/12 estimate. The corn area lost to the December-January drought in the South (particularly the estimated 20% corn loss in Paraná's first-crop corn) led to lower estimates. Corn production is held steady at 62 million tonnes. These numbers already reflect the corn losses from the drought.

Wheat production is placed at 5.7 million tonnes. The slight decrease in production reflects the area loss to second-crop corn planting. Wheat production area is estimated at two million hectares, a 7% decrease from 2010/11. Wheat production, mostly concentrated in the three southern-most states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, is shifting further south.

US wheat exports in 2011/12 are estimated to reach 700,000 tonnes, the second highest level on record.