Brazilian Grains Production Seen Lower

Figures from the governmental Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) forecast production of cereals, beans and oilseeds to fall by 5.9 percent this year to a total of 137.3 million tons, compared with 145.8 million tons in 2008.

The head of the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA), Katia Abreu, was more pessimistic, estimating a 10 percent drop in grain production, based on weather conditions in the past few weeks which were not taken into account by IBGE, such as the drought in productive areas in the south and west of the country.