August 15, 2007

 

Argentine corn group trims forecast for Argentina's 2007/08 corn output

 

 

Argentina's 2007/08 corn production will be similar or slightly higher that the 22 million tonnes produced last year, the corn association Maizar said in a release Tuesday (August 14).

 

Early forecasts had called for up to a 20 percent increase in area going to corn.

 

While area is expected to rise 12 percent, yields are expected to be lower than the exceptional yields in 2006/07 due to heavy rainfall last season, according to Maizar.

 

Production will not be more than 5 percent higher than last year, Maizar said.

 

Dry conditions in some areas and the shortage of seeds and fertilizer have caused some farmers to shift their plans away from corn, according to Maizar.

 

The Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange has forecast a 20 to 25 percent increase in area going to corn in 2007/08 compared with a year earlier.

 

However, the exchange also warned that the lack of available fertilizer, seeds and fuel may somewhat decrease the gain.

 

Estimates for Argentina's 2007/08 corn production in million hectares (HA) or million tonnes (MT).

 

Argentina's historical production estimates in million tonnes, according to the Agriculture Secretariat

  

	Corn
2006-07	22
2005-06	14.5
2004-05	20.5
2003-04	15
2002-03	14.7