Brazil 2009-10 soy crop seen slightly higher

Brazil's 2009-10 soy crop forecast rose to 67.86 million tonnes from the 67.39 million tonnes projected in April, crop supply agency Conab of the agriculture ministry said Thursday (May 6).

If confirmed, the current soy crop would be up 19% from the 57.17 million tonnes harvested in 2008-09, Conab said in its May report of Brazil's grain crop.

The Brazilian corn crop is seen slightly up at 54.18 million tonnes from 54.14 million tonnes forecast in April. Brazil harvested 51 million tonnes corn in the 2008-09 season.

Conab gave its first forecast of the 2010 wheat crop at 5.1 million tonnes, up slightly from the 5 million tonnes in 2009.

Brazil is often the world's largest wheat importer, drawing most of its foreign supplies from Argentina but occasionally taking shipments from North America and Europe.

Brazil's total grains crop is expected to reach 146.87 million tonnes, up slightly from the 146.31 million forecast in April and up nearly 9% from the 135.13 million tonnes harvested in 2008-09.