November 2000
World grain and oilseed production has trended higher over the
past twenty years, with oilseeds growing at an annual rate of 3.2
percent and grains at 1.1 percent.
Large production the last couple of years has led to low
international prices, while world harvested area of both grains
and oilseeds declined in 2000/01. Higher average yield is
forecast to boost world oilseed production to a new record. Total
grain (wheat, coarse grains, and milled rice) production for
2000/01 is estimated at 1836.6 million tons, down 28.0 million or
2 percent from the previous year. Production of the seven major
oilseeds (soybeans, rapeseed, cottonseed, peanuts,
sunflowerseeds, copra, and palm kernel) is estimated at a record
302.5 million tons, up 2.4 million or 1 percent from 1999/2000.