November 4, 2004

Wheat Planting Area in China to Expand 4.95% in 2004

The planting area of winter wheat in China is estimated to reach 21.20 million hectares this year. This figure is an increase of one million hectares or a 4.95 per cent growth over last year, according to the latest forecast made by the State Grain and Edible Oil Information Center.

The price hike on the wheat market this summer, which increased by as much as 40 per cent, has been attributed to the rise in wheat planting area.

Shanxi and Xinjiang registered sharp increases in acreage under wheat as their planting areas had decreased last year.

The planting area of wheat in Shandong grew by 100,000 hectares, or up 3.23 per cent year on year, while Hebei's planting area also increased by 100,000 hectares, up 4.6 per cent.

The wheat planting area in Henan remained unchanged from last year.