Despite adverse climate Brazil expects record harvest: 193.6 million tons

Saturday, February 15th 2014 - 05:46 UTC

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Soy and corn are the country's main crops

Weeks of drought and heat have hit Brazil's soy and corn production, but the agriculture ministry still predicted a record 2014 harvest. Corn production is set to total 75.5 million metric tons, down from a January estimate of 79 million, state food supply agency Conab said in its monthly report.

Soy production will be 90 million tons, just off a January forecast of 90.3 million, and still 10.4% higher than last year, Conab said.

For soy, grain and rice combined, Conab now expects 2013 to show a 3.6% increase overall, to 193.6 million tons.

Last month it had forecast a combined total of 196.7 million tons, but January saw very low rainfall in much of the giant country.

Brazil's Institute of Geography and Statistics gave its own 2014 forecast of 193.9 million tons, three percent up on last year's 188.2 million tons, which was, itself, the best return on record.

Conac chairman Rubens Rodrigues dos Santos played down the effects of low rainfall, saying ”favorable (production) expectations are confirmed.“

Consultant Rafael Ribeiro said that: ”There has been a lack of rain, and heat affecting the south, in particular, has begun to have an effect, which could lead to further downward revisions in forecasts.”

But, like the official agencies, he still forecast a record yield. Brazil is the world's number one soybean exporter and also second-biggest exporter of corn.

Categories: Agriculture, Economy, Brazil.

Tags: Brazil, Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), CONAB, corn, Rubens Rodrigues, soybean.

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Brasileiro
Good! But needs to improve.
Feb 15th, 2014 - 03:27 pm 0
CabezaDura2
Not good news for Argentina this will force prices down in Chicago
Feb 15th, 2014 - 03:35 pm 0
Jack Bauer
A record yield. No doubt, very good. But with it, returns to same old problem...lack of infrastructure to get it to the port of Santos, in the State of SP. Highways are inadequate( shitty, to be honest), the entrance to the port area is like a funnel, a real mess, causing truckers to form a queue (on the highway ) 30 km....they take a couple of days to offload their cargoes, chewing into their profit until there's none left....
This is the country that is spending dozens of billions of US$ on soccer stadiums to host the world cup, because there is absolutely nothing else that needs doing in this wonderful country, where we have the best highways in the world, the best educational system in the world ; one of the best public health systems in the world (Lula said so...so it MUST be true); no slums, no crime, no unemployment....Dilma (and Lula) will swear to it...
Feb 15th, 2014 - 09:32 pm 0

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