November 10, 2010

Argentina to have record crop and export

Argentina will experience a record crop this 2010-11 season and a considerable export surplus of wheat and corn at 5.5 million and 18.5 million tonnes, respectively.

Argentina's Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Julian Dominguez, announced the first step towards institutionalising a system of agriculture estimates to be jointly elaborated by the ministry, cereals and oilseeds markets, provincial ministries, and the different agriculture schools in Argentina.

"We presented our president the latest data and conditions of the historic record crop for the 2010-11 season, which should reach 103 million tonnes", said Dominguez.

"We are planning a minimum export surplus of 5.5 million tonnes of wheat, taking into account the forecasts that anticipate a record crop of 13-14 million tonnes according to the most conservative estimates," he said.

With regard to corn and basing on statistics, Dominguez said that, "the crop is estimated in 26 million tonnes and as with wheat we are planning an export surplus of 18.5 million tonnes."

An announcement was also made that Du Qinglin, Dominguez's Chinese counterpart, will be arriving this week at Argentina to sign many bilateral agreements which will allow the opening of the Asian market to beef, wine, barely, and dairy produce to Argentine exports.