EGYPT (11 May)
Overall crop prospects are favourable, reflecting favourable weather conditions, larger planted area and adequate availability of inputs. Production of the mainly irrigated wheat crop is tentatively estimated at 7.19 million tonnes, up 5 percent from the above average production of last year. Barley output is anticipated to increase by 76 percent to 248 000 tonnes in 2004, driven mainly by a significant expansion in cultivated area.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2003/04 (July/June) are expected to be about 6.4 million tonnes, while maize imports are projected at about 5.2 million tonnes.