Informa Crop Estimates

Informa Economics have increased their world soybean production estimate for 2009/10 by 4 MMT to 256.2 MMT, with production in the US now estimated at a record 93.1 MMT (from 90.3 MMT previously and 80.7 MMT in 2008/09). Brazilian output is also seen higher at a record 66 MMT (from 65 MMT previously and 57.1 MMT in 2008/09) and Argentine production at 53 MMT (unchanged from last month's estimate, but also a record and up 21 MMT from the 32 MMT produced in 2008/09).

World corn production is now estimated at 798.1 MMT (previous figure 790.4 MMT; previous year 792.0 MMT). Production in the US is estimated at 329.4 MMT (328.2; 307.4), in Brazil at 52.7 MMT (54.1; 51.0) and in Argentina at 15.5 MMT (13.0; 13.5).

The world wheat area for 2010 is seen 2% lower at 222.0 million hectares (from 225.8 million ha last year). The area in the EU is forecast higher at 25.7 million hectares (from 25.4 million in 2009), in Russia 28.0 million ha (28.8), in the US 19.3 million ha (20.2), in Ukraine 6.8 million ha (6.9), and in China 23.5 million ha (24.0). Currently, the 2010 wheat crop is expected at 656.8 MMT (674.9 MMT).

The world rapeseed acreage is seen 4% higher in 2010 at 32.1 million hectares (from 30.8 million in 2009). Canadian acreage is seen higher at 6.5 million ha (6.1), the EU is estimated down slightly at 6.4 million ha (6.5), and Ukraine little changed at 1.35 million ha (1.30). Currently, the 2010 rapeseed crop is forecast at 60.6 MMT (59.5 MMT).