June 13, 2012

China's 2012 winter wheat crop seen 1.63% lower on-year 

This year, the winter wheat output of China is estimated to drop 1.63% against last year to 109.5 million tonnes, as rainfall during the flowering period and diseases slashed yield, an agricultural consultancy said.

Beijing Oriental Agri-business Consultant Co. earlier forecast a record output for winter wheat, but revised the estimates after its survey during the harvest showed yield fell significantly in major growing areas including Henan, Hebei and Anhui provinces, the company said in a research note Monday (June 11).

The company's forecast goes against estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture -- which said winter wheat output will likely continue to grow to record levels -- and the state-backed China National Grain & Oils Information Center, which expects wheat output to rise 2.02% to 120.3 million tonnes.

The agricultural ministry said Tuesday (June 12) that the nation's wheat harvest was more than 65% complete.

In 2011, winter wheat output totalled 110.79 million tonnes, up 2.12 million tonnes from 2010, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The bureau is scheduled to release 2012 winter wheat output figures early July.