CHINA (6 June)
In China (mainland), harvesting of 2005 early rice crop will start soon and production is expected to increase by 3 million tonnes on last year to reach 34 million tonnes, reflecting larger area sown and favourable weather, except for spring drought which affected Yunnan and Hainan provinces. Aggregate 2005 paddy production is tentatively forecast at 182 million tonnes.
Harvesting of the 2005 winter wheat crop has commenced. The weather during the season has been favourable in the major producing areas. Yield is forecast at 4.055 tonnes per hectare, below last year’s record yield of 4.2 tonnes per hectare but above the average of the previous five years. The 2005 wheat output is tentatively forecast at 91.7 million tonnes, about 400 000 tonnes above last year, reflecting the increased wheat area as a result of higher prices and Government policy, especially increased wheat seed subsidies.
The sowing of 2005 coarse grain crops, mainly maize, is complete in the major producing regions in China and soil moisture remained favourable for germinating maize in the northeast. A large maize yield is expected, but is forecast smaller than last year when there was near perfect weather.
Despite the forecast of larger crops for wheat, rice and maize in 2005, China is expected still to face a grain deficit and would continue to be a net grain importer in 2005/06. In addition, China is expected to import more than 22 million tonnes of soybeans in 2005/06 to meet growing domestic demand. Soybeans are defined as a grain in China.
Taiwan Province is expected to import some 6 million tonnes of cereals in 2005/06 (4.85 million tonnes of coarse grains for livestock and 1 million tonnes of wheat), more or less the same as last year.