MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil looking ahead to another year of record grains crop: 192.5 million tons

Soy, corn and rice take up 85% of the planted area and 91% of total production

Brazil which has become one of the world’s food powerhouses is forecasting a record harvest of 192.5 million tons of grains, up 2.3% over the previous period, according to the latest report from the Brazilian Stats and Geography Institute, IBGE.

Total production of grains, oilseeds and legumes for this year’s crop, according to on the field surveys by IBGE experts is 0.1% up over the May estimate of 192.4 million tons.

The larger production in volume is mainly because of the increase in the area planted, which this year reached 56.3 million hectares, or 6.6% more than in 2013. Soy beans, corn and rice are the most extended crops in Brazil and make up 85.1% of the sown area and 91% of total volume production.

Area dedicated to soybeans has increased 8.6% and to rice 0.3% while corn fields remain unchanged. Soy bean production is expected to reach 86.6 million tons, or 6% more than in 2013.

IBGE estimates that the coffee crop will reach 2,7 million tons, down 6.3% and sugar cane 741.2 million tons, up 0.3%. According to the IBGE June release other crops that will experience an increase this year are soybeans, rice and cotton (26.5%); oats (6.8%); cocoa 4.3%; barley, 2.7%; castor oil, 169%: yucca, 9.5& and wheat, 37-7%.