CHINA (10 June)

Heavy rains in recent weeks maintained favourable conditions for summer crops, including rice, across most parts of the country, though loss of life, property and infrastructure were reported due to floods. In northern parts of the country, rains benefited germinating to vegetative summer crops and aided the late-filling of winter wheat. Widespread showers also maintained rice irrigation supplies across central and southern China. However, recent reports indicate that a lower summer grain output than last year is anticipated due to excess rainfall and locusts.

Official reports indicate that production of the 1998 wheat crop is anticipated to decline by 2-4 percent from last year's record crop of 124 million tonnes. The decline is due to snow and low temperatures which hit parts of southern China and the drought conditions in the north.