China's 2009-10 soy output seen lower

 

 

China's 2009-10 soy production is estimated at 14.5 million tonnes, down 0.5 million or 3 percent from last month and down 1.0 million or 6 percent from last year, the US Department of Agriculture said Friday (October 9) in its monthly crop circular report.

Planted area is estimated at 8.8 million hectares, down 0.3 million from last month and down 0.3 million from last year's revised estimate of 9.1 million hectares. The revisions are based on updated statistics from Chinese government sources. Farmers reduced soy area in 2009-10 in response to poor profits and stronger government support for competing crops. The estimated yield of 1.65 tonnes per hectare is unchanged this month but lower than last year and below the 5-year average.

 

Heilongjiang normally accounts for about 40 percent of China's total soy output. Soil moisture was suitable for planting, but unseasonably hot and dry weather in May created drought conditions over more than 45 percent of Heilongjiang's sown area. Emergence was poor in many areas and some farmers were forced to replant. The spring drought was followed by wet and relatively cool weather in June and July, which slowed crop development. Elsewhere in Northeast China (which accounts for 16 to 18 percent of total output), drought conditions from mid-July through mid-August had a negative impact on soy in the flowering/pod-formation stages, further lowering prospects. Harvesting has started and will continue through October.