June 10, 2010

Brazil's grain production to increase by 8.8%

The Brazilian Census Bureau's (IBGE) fifth forecast for the 2010 cereals, oilseeds and root vegetables crop is of 145.8 million tonnes - 8.8% more than in 2009 (134 million tonnes) and 0.1% lower than 2008's record high crop (145.9 million tonnes).

IBGE's has lowered its harvested area forecast by 0.9% against 2009, to 46.8 million hectares. The projections for Brazil's three main crops (soy, corn and rice) - which account for 83.1% of planted area and 90.9% of total production volume - were respectively raised by 7.2% and lowered by 6.7% and 6.1%, against 2009.

Production volume forecasts for corn and soy were raised by 3.7% and 19.6% respectively.