Maize forecasts boost world coarse grain estimate

By FWi staff

PRODUCTION of coarse grains has been predicted higher than last year at 884 million tonnes, according to the International Grains Council.

This is the result of higher forecasts for maize in the USA and EC.

However, smaller harvests in both countries and North Africa as well as China and North Africa were only partly compensated by higher output in the CIS, South America and South Africa, noted the IGC in its monthly report.

World trade remains unchanged at 98m tonnes, 3million up on 1998. Increases are the result of increased imports of maize from Korea barley by Japan and China.

Consumption is also higher at 877m tonnes on the back of increased use in the USA.

World estimates – coarse grain   96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 (forecast as at 27/10/99) 99-00 (forecast as at 24/11/99) Production 914 893 896 881 884 Trade 92 90 95 98 98 Consumption 881 883 875 875 877 Stocks 124 132 154 158 159

World stocks are also predicted higher, by 1m tonnes at 150m tonnes and 5m tonnes more than in 1998.

“Production estimates for maize and sorghum in the USA have been increased, but estimated demand there is unchanged,” noted the IGC.

“Supplies of maize in the EC are somewhat easier than estimated previously, but those of barley are now lower.”