August 11, 2008

World wheat production for 2008-09 up 9 percent from last year

World wheat production prospects have improved during the last month and a record crop of 662 million tonnes is now forecast for 2008/09, according to the International Grains Council (IGC).

The projection is 4 million tonnes up from an estimate issued last month and 54 million tonnes or nearly 9 percent up from last year, according to the IGC's monthly report.

Major producers such as the EU, Russia, Ukraine, the US, Brazil, India and Australia are all expected to have improved crop production  whereas Argentina  and the Near East Asia are likely to fare worse.

World corn production in 2008/09 was projected at 759 million tonnes, up from a previous forecast of 756 million but still below last season's 785 million.