September 7, 2006

China's 2006 grain forecast lowered due to dry weather
 

The State Grain and Oil Information Centre has cut its forecast of China's 2006 grain output after taking into consideration dry weather in some parts of the country this year.

Although maize output would increase 1.2 percent from last year to reach 141 million tonnes, it would still be one million tonnes less than that forecast in August, the centre said.

Meanwhile, soybean output would fall 2.7 percent from 2005 to 15.9 million tonnes.

The downward adjustment was mainly due to the severe droughts this summer in Sichuan, Chongqing in south-west China and Liaoning in north-east China.