The 2012 national grain harvest is expected to reach 163.3 million tons, 2% greater than in 2011 (160.1 million tons) and 1.6% above the June estimate.

The figures are part of the seventh estimate of the Routine Survey of Agricultural Production released today (Aug 9) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

The three principal crops (rice, corn and soybeans), which represent 91% of cereal, legume and oilseed production, account for 84.7% of the area to be harvested.

According to IBGE the production of corn is expected to be 27% higher, while rice and soybeans show a reduction of 14.9% and 12.2% respectively compared to 2011.

The study shows that the Center-West region leads in grain production, with a harvest expect to reach 69.8 million tons. It is followed by the South (56.7 million tons), Southeast (19.1 million tons), Northeast (13.2 million tons) and North (4.5 million tons).

11 August 2012