December 22, 2003

 

 

Brazilian Soybean Production Up 16%

 

According to Brazilian agriculture consultants Safras e Mercado, Brazilian soybean production will reach 59.73 million metric tons in the current 2003-04 season (October- September), some 16% higher than the 51.42 million tons produced last year.

 

The estimate is higher than the government's official figure of 58.8 million tons, released last week, and in line with the 60 million tons forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

 

Safras raised its 2003-04 forecast marginally from the 59.43 million tons predicted in October.

 

Planted area is projected to total a massive 20.62 million hectares, up 13% on last year when 18.31 million hectares were planted.

 

Safras forecasts a small increase in average yields across Brazil to 2,897 kilograms per hectare from 2,808 kg/hectare in 2002-03.

 

The lead producing state will once again be Mato Grosso with production of 15.55 million tons, up 23% from 12.60 million tons last year, on a 19% increase in area to 5.10 million hectares.

 

The 2004-05 output forecast was raised by 200,000 tons from October.

 

The next-largest output will be in Parana state with a crop of 11.99 million tons in 2003-04, 9% higher than the 11.00 million tons last year. Planted area in the state was seen rising 9% to 3.90 million hectares.

 

In Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state which plants primarily genetically modified soy, production was also seen growing by 9% to 10.39 million tons.

 

Soybean planting is virtually complete across Brazil, said the consultancy.

 

Some 99% of the 2003-04 crop is now in the ground, up from 98% at the same point last year.

 

In general, planting has progressed smoothly, resulting in higher potential yields when compared with last year, said Flavio Franca Junior, Safras soy analyst.