According to the latest report by The China National Grain and Oils Information Centre, the forecast for corn maintained at 156 million tonnes as better weather improved yields, a rise of 2.75 percent from 2007.
China, the world's largest soy importer, was also expected to harvest a record 17.5 million tonnes this year thanks to larger acreage, a rise of 36.7 percent from last year.
China soy imports are forecasted to increase by 7 percent to 38 million tonnes in 2008/09, compared with a growth of 23 percent in the previous year, according to the US Agriculture Department.
Despite expectations of a bumper corn harvest next month, China has only allowed a small amount of exports to Taiwan and North Korea this year.
Higher domestic output was seen to slow the growth of imports for next year, analysts said.
China’s grains output forecasts | |||
|
2008 |
2008 |
2007 |
(Current estimates)
(million tonnes) |
(Previous estimates)
(million tonnes) |
(million tonnes) | |
Corn |
156 |
156 |
151.84 |
Wheat |
112.5 |
112.5 |
109.86 |
Winter wheat |
107.4 |
107.4 |
105.16 |
Soy |
17.5 |
17.5 |
12.8 |
Rapeseed |
11.5 |
11.5 |
10.6 |
Planted areas (in million hectares): | ||||
|
2008 |
2008 |
2007 |
2007 |
(Current estimates) |
(Previous estimates) |
(Current estimates) |
(Previous estimates) | |
Corn |
28.8 |
27.85 |
29 |
28.05 |
Wheat |
23.9 |
23.9 |
23.84 |
22.98 |
Soy |
9.65 |
9.65 |
8.7 |
- |
Rapeseed |
6.4 |
6.4 |
5.65 |
- |