MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Latest estimates indicate Brazil is heading for another record grains crop

Agriculture minister Mendes Ribeiro Filho, Brazil a world food supplier super power

Brazil latest harvest (2010/2011) should reach 162.9 million tons of grains and oilseeds establishing a new record according to the latest release by the National Supplies Company, Conab.

This represents a 9.2% increase (13.7 million tons) over the previous record crop (2009/2010) which totalled 149.2 million tons and is attributed by Conab to excellent weather conditions in most agriculture areas.

“The new record harvest shows the strength of Brazilian agriculture and the growing importance of Brazil as a world supplier of food”, said Agriculture minister Mendes Ribeiro Filho.

The release indicates that the area planted with grains and oil seeds also increased by 5.3% (2.5 million tons) and now stands at 49.9 million hectares.

According to the Conab report, Brazil’s centre south area represents 79% of all cultivated area with 39.45 million hectares while the north-north-west has 21% with 10.47 million ha. More specifically the south covers 44.9% with 17.1 million hectares; the southeast, 12.2% with 4.79 million ha and the centre-west represents 44.9% with 16.9 million ha.

This last estimate is based on the twelfth survey of the agriculture calendar year and was done between August 22/26 with 69 experts collecting information from farmers, agronomists, cooperatives, state agriculture departments, technical support organizations, financial agents, input suppliers in the main agriculture areas of Brazil and other organizations linked to the sector..

In related news it was reported from Singapore that China in the fourth quarter of the year will be receiving half its soy bean imports from Brazil and Argentina. The estimate is seven million tons to be delivered October-December.