China maintains '09 wheat, rapeseed output forecast

China National Grain and Oils Information Centre (CNGOIC), an official Chinese grain think-tank, kept its forecast for the country's wheat and rapeseed output unchanged from last month in its latest forecast issued on Friday (Jun 12).

Chinese farmers will complete harvesting the crops this month.

China, the world's largest wheat producer and consumer, is expected to harvest 107.2 million tonnes of winter wheat this year, an on-year increase of 0.2 percent, according to the centre. It added that China's total wheat output in 2009 is estimated to grow 0.6 percent to 113.2 million tonnes.

The agricultural ministry said that farmers have finished harvesting 66.9 percent of winter wheat.

Meanwhile, the centre also kept its 2009 rapeseed output unchanged at 13 million tonnes.