May 8, 2009
China think tank hikes 2009 wheat output estimate by 2 percent
China National Grain and Oils Information Centre raised on Friday (May 8) its estimate for the country's wheat output in 2009 by 2 percent from an earlier estimate.
The think tank increased its wheat output forecast for the year to 113.2 million tonnes, up 0.6 percent from 2008. The previous forecast was for a decline of 1.3 percent to 111 million tonnes.
Rainfall in most wheat areas in mid- and late April have been very beneficial to the wheat crop's growth, CNGOIC said.
But the centre kept its estimates for output of soy, corn, rice and rapeseed unchanged from its April report.
It said farmers tended to grow more corn than soy due to higher profits for corn.
The following table of forecasts is from CNGOIC's May report:
|
　 |
2009 output in tonnes |
Change on-year |
2009 area in hectares |
Change on-year |
|
Soy |
15,000,000 |
-3.20% |
9,200,000 |
-3.70% |
|
Corn |
163,000,000 |
-1.50% |
29,000,000 |
0.70% |
|
Wheat |
113,200,000 |
0.60% |
24,010,000 |
0.50% |
|
Rapeseed |
13,000,000 |
0.20% |
7,000,000 |
7.70% |
|
Rice |
193,180,000 |
0.10% |
29,750,000 |
1.20% |
