PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS FOR 1998/99
January 1999

WHEAT

  ------ 1998/99 -------  
Country Current Estimate Monthly Change Monthly Change Change from 1997/98 Comments
  MMT MMT (%) (%)  
World 585.7 -0.1 -0 -4 Production is estimated lower as a decrease in the United States more than offset an increase in the total foreign category.
United States 69.4 -0.2 -0 +3 Production is estimated lower due to a reduction in harvested area.
Total Foreign 516.3 +0.1 +0 -5 Production is estimated higher due to an increase in Argentina.
Argentina 10.3 +0.3 +3 -30 Production is estimated higher as favorable December weather boosted yield.

COARSE GRAINS

  ------ 1998/99 -------  
Country Current Estimate Monthly Change Monthly Change Change from 1997/98 Comments
  MMT MMT (%) (%)  
World 880.5 -1.6 -0 -0 Production is estimated lower as a decrease in the United States more than offset an increase in the total foreign category.
United States 271.6 -2.1 -1 +4 Production is estimated lower mainly due to a reduction in corn area. Corn yield is the second highest on record.
Total Foreign 609.0 +0.5 +0 -2 Production is estimated higher as an increase in Sudan more than offset decreases in Turkey and Tanzania.
Sudan 5.5 +1.2 +28 +43 Production is estimated higher for sorghum and millet based on reports of higher yields.
Yugoslavia 9.2 +0.3 +3 +14 Production is estimated higher based on harvest results primarily increasing corn yield for Serbia.
Turkey 10.4 -0.3 -3 +4 Production is estimated lower due to slight yield reductions for barley and corn.
           

 

COARSE GRAINS, continued
  ------ 1998/99 -------  
Country Current Estimate Monthly Change Monthly Change Change from 1997/98 Comments
Tanzania 2.9 -0.3 -9 +3 Production is estimated lower as the second-season short rains have been weak. Corn area and yield are reduced.
Poland 17.2 -0.2 -1 -0 Production is estimated lower due to official statistics indicating a reduction in rye yield.
Kenya 2.7 -0.2 -7 +6 Production is estimated lower due to the late start of the second-season short rains. Corn area and output are lowered.

RICE (MILLED BASIS)

 

------ 1998/99 -------

  
Country Current Estimate Monthly Change Monthly Change Change from 1997/98 Comments
  MMT MMT (%) (%)  
World 337.8 +0.5 +0 -2 Production is estimated higher due to increases in the United States and the total foreign category.
United States 6.1 +0.3 +4 +3 Production is estimated higher based on an increase in harvested area.
Total Foreign 371.7 +0.2 +0 -2 Production is estimated higher as increases in Brazil, Japan, and South Korea more than offset a decrease in Thailand.
Brazil 7.1 +0.3 +5 +23 Production is estimated higher based on favorable weather and increased irrigation supplies. Yield is estimated at a record level.
Japan 8.1 +0.2 +3 -11 Production is estimated higher due to official reports indicating increased yield.
South Korea 5.1 +0.1 +2 -6 Production is estimated slightly higher due to an increase in yield.
Uruguay 0.8 +0.1 +11 +31 Production is estimated at a record level due to an increase in yield and record area.
Thailand 14.3 -0.7 -4 -5 Production is estimated down as the main-season crop was negatively affected by inadequate rainfall in the lower northeast.

OILSEEDS

  ------ 1998/99 -------  
Country Current Estimate Monthly Change Monthly Change Change from 1997/98 Comments
  MMT MMT (%) (%)  
World 289.4 +1.4 +0 +1 Production is estimated higher due to increases in the United States and the total foreign category.
United States 84.6 +0.4 +0 +2 Production is estimated at a record as increases in total oilseeds more than offset a downward revision in soybean production.
Total Foreign 204.8 +1.0 +0 +1 Production is estimated higher as increases in Brazil, Argentina, and China more than offset decreases in India and Pakistan.
Brazil 30.4 +0.5 +2 -5 Production is forecast up due to improved soil moisture in key soybean areas.
Argentina 25.3 +0.5 +2 -0 Production is forecast higher based on beneficial rainfall in key soybean producing areas.
China 41.0 +0.4 +1 -6 Cottonseed production is estimated higher due to an SSB report raising cotton output.
India 26.5 -0.2 -1 +9 Production is estimated down due to reports of a disappointing soybean harvest in major producing states.
Pakistan 3.6 -0.2 -4 +2 Production is estimated lower because of poor harvest conditions for cottonseed.

PALM OIL

  ------ 1998/99 -------  
Country Current Estimate Monthly Change Monthly Change Change from 1997/98 Comments
  MMT MMT (%) (%)  
World 17.7 NC NC +5 No change this month. Production is estimated at a record.

COTTON

  ------ 1998/99 -------  
Country Current Estimate Monthly Change Monthly Change Change from 1997/98 Comments
  MBALES MBALES (%) (%)  
World Total 85.1 +0.9 +1 -7 Production is estimated up based on higher production in both the United States and total foreign category.
United States 13.8 +0.3 +3 -27 Production is estimated up due to higher area, offsetting a drop in yield.
Total Foreign 71.3 +0.6 +1 -2 Production is estimated higher as an increase in China more than offset decreases in Pakistan and Argentina.
China 19.8 +1.0 +5 -6 Production is estimated higher due to a recent SSB report. Higher yields in Xinjiang Province more than offset crop losses in some provinces of Central China.
Pakistan 7.2 -0.3 -4 +3 Production is estimated lower due to poor harvest conditions for the second picking in Punjab caused by unfavorable weather.
Argentina 1.4 -0.1 -7 +4 Production is estimated lower due to a decrease in yield potential. Although area is increased slightly, farmers have reduced input use because of low cotton prices.