August 7, 2009
Brazil corn seen down 14 percent at 50.2 million tonnes on-year
Brazil is expected to produce 50.2 million tonnes of corn in 2008-09, the National Commodities Supply Corp., or Conab, said Thursday (August 6).
Total production is forecast to fall 14 percent from the 2007-08 season, the government agency said.
This is also slightly more than Conab's July estimate of 49.9 million tonnes for 2008-09.
Brazil, which has two corn harvests per year, is expected to produce 33.6 million tonnes from the first harvest and 16.6 million tonnes from the second, Conab said.
Areas in Parana, Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul states, which are in the south of Brazil, faced a decline in corn production from the first harvest due to prolonged hot, dry weather that hindered the development of the crop at the end of 2008, Conab said.
The crop has also seen a fall in production due to lower corn prices, according to Conab.
