May 14, 2012

Brazil's 2012 grain crop forecast down 0.5%

The fourth forecast for the 2012 cereals, vegetables and oilseed crop for Brazil had been published Thursday (May 10) by the Brazilian Census Bureau (IBGE) at 159.3 million tonnes, 0.5% lower than the 2011 crop (160.1 million tonnes) and 0.5% higher than March's forecast.

Planted area is seen reaching 50.2 million hectares - 3.2% more than in 2011 and 0.8% more than in the third forecast.

Brazil's three main crops rice, sweet corn and soy, which account for 91.2% of the 2012 forecast, are seen covering 84.3% of total harvested area.

In terms of planted area, rice is seen falling 11.6% against 2011, while sweet corn and soy are seen rising by 14.1% and 3.1%, respectively.

Meanwhile, in terms of output rice and soy are expected to fall by 13.8% and 11.4% and sweet corn to grow by 19.5%, respectively, against 2011.