Conab: Brazilian grain production should reach 268.3 million tons
The 5th Grain Crop Survey 2020/21, released this Thursday (11) by the National Supply Company (Conab), points to growth in total expected production, which should reach 268.3 million tons, or 4.4% (11.4 million tons) higher than that obtained in 2019/20.
Compared to the previous survey, the study indicates that there was a gain of 3.5 million tons, which is sustained by the 4.4% growth in the planting area of corn second crop. This crop is still being sown. Regarding the total planted area, estimated at 67.7 million hectares, it represents a growth of 2.7% in relation to the previous harvest.
Conducted in the last week of January, the survey shows that the harvest of first-crop crops is currently underway. This is a period in which most of these areas will be used for the subsequent planting of second and third crop crops.
With regard to corn first crop, there was a reduction of 0.8% in cultivated area. Expected production is 23.6 million tons. Adding the second and third harvests, total production could reach 105.5 million tons, 2.9% higher than that obtained in 2019/20. Soy has been maintaining the growth trend in cultivated area. In this harvest, the estimate points to an area of 38.3 million hectares, growth of 3.6% in relation to the previous cycle and a production of 133.8 million tons.
Beans show growth in the first crop of 0.6% in area and production estimated at 1 million tons. When the three harvests are added, this production number increases to 3.2 million tons. Meanwhile, the rice crop should suffer a reduction of 2.3% in cultivated area, totaling 1.7 million hectares and 10.9 million tons in production.
Finally, with regard to the other crops, cotton shows a concentration of planting in January, and a forecast drop of 13.1% in area and 16% in production. First crop peanuts will have growth of 3% in area and 560.5 thousand tons of estimated production. Wheat, on the other hand, starts planting in March, with prospects for growth of 2.1% in sown area and 6.4 million tons of production.
Grain Market – Regarding corn, the cereal ended the crop year in January 2021 with exports of 34.8 million tons, which represents a reduction of 14.9% compared to last year, maintaining the export forecast at 35 million tons by the end of January 2022. In the current month, shipments reached 2.5 million tons, 22% more than in the same period last year. Soy has estimated sales to the foreign market of 85.6 million tons for this year. In January, the pace of exports was slow due to the small amount of harvested crop of the culture, but if the expectation for the year is confirmed, the volume will be a record of the historical series, with an increase of 3.12%. For cotton, exports continued at an accelerated pace compared to the historical average in January, but with a drop of 11.34% compared to Jan/2020. In the case of rice, the highlight goes to imports, which closed the first month of the year at 131.1 thousand tons, against 59.6 thousand tons observed in the same period in 2019.