November 24, 2010

Brazil's soy planting ahead last year's rate

The planting of Brazil's 2010/11 (Sept/Aug) soy crop climbed to 75% of the expected area by November 19, nearly on par with the 74% planted a year ago, grain analysts Celeres said Tuesday (Nov 23).

Growers in the world's No. 2 soy producer after the US struggled with late and inconsistent rains during the early planting season in the centre-west, but overall the country managed to make a 14 percentage point jump from the 61% planted in the previous week.

Historically, soy planting is ahead of the 70% sown on average over the past five years at this week of the season, Celeres data showed.

Producers in Mato Grosso, the leading soy growing state, which lies in the centre-west region, have planted 91% of the new crop, still behind the 98% planted by this time last year, which was an exceptionally good season for rainfall.

Mato Grosso's planting is up from the 80% planted one week prior. The state received some strong rains over the past few weeks, local forecaster Somar said.

Brazil's No. 2 soy producer, Parana, was also advanced in planting, with 93% of its expected crop sown, up from the 80% the week prior. Last year at this time, the state had planted 98% of its crop, Celeres said in a weekly report.

The state has received favorable rainfall so far this planting season, which has put it ahead of the traditional leader during the planting season, No. 1 producer state Mato Grosso, where the regular spring rains started about a month and a half behind schedule.

No. 3 soy producer state Rio Grande do Sul now has 51% of its area sown. It received greater than average rainfall in September, but early plantings have suffered from erratic rains in November. Last year, it had planted 38% of its crop by this week.

No. 4 soy state Goias, in the center-west, has planted 89% of its crop, on par with the 89% planted at this time last year but well up from the prior week's 77%. No. 5 growing state Mato Grosso do Sul has sown 82%, down from the 90% planted at this time in 2009.

Producers are expected to step up planting in the coming days, especially in the centre-west, as November brings new and more frequent rains. The bulk of Brazil's soy crop is sown during November.