2018/2019 harvest expected to reach record with 240,7 million tons of grains

Grain production in Brazil in the 2018/2019 Harvest is expected to reach 240,7 million tons, the best result in history, according to the 10th Survey released this Thursday (11) by the National Supply Company (Conab). The expected result surpasses the previous record of 237,6 million tons from the 2016/2017 harvest. Among the highlights is second harvest corn, with a record production forecast of 72,4 million tons, with growth of 34,2%. First-crop corn should be at 26,2 million tons, a reduction of 2,5%.

Compared to the previous year (2017/2018), the increase in total grain production is 5,7%, or 13 million tons. The planted area is forecast at 62,9 million hectares, an increase of 1,9% compared to the last harvest.

For cotton, the estimate is for a production increase of 32,9%. This is equivalent to a volume of 6,7 million seed cotton or 2,7 million cotton lint. In soy, there is a reduction of 3,6% in production, reaching 115 million tons. The Midwest and South regions represent more than 78% of this production.

Rice production is estimated at 10,4 million tons, 13,6% lower than that obtained in 2017/18, due to reductions in the main producing states. First-crop beans also showed a reduction (22,5%), remaining at 996,9 thousand tons.

The favorable climate contributed to a production of 1,3 million tons of beans in the second harvest, 7,1% above the previous one. And the third harvest, with planting completed in mid-July, should have a production of 721,5 thousand tons, 17,5% higher than the volume already produced in 2017/18.

The products with the biggest increases in planted area were second-crop corn (819,2 thousand ha), soybeans (717,4 thousand ha) and cotton (425,5 thousand ha). Soybeans showed growth of 2% in the planting area, reaching 35,9 million ha.

winter crops

Winter crops (oats, canola, rye, barley and triticale) show a slight increase in the cultivated area, from 546,5 thousand ha to 552,2 thousand ha. Wheat production, however, should be 5,5 million tons, with an estimated area of ​​1,99 million ha, 2,4% smaller than the area planted in 2018.