Global crop projections increased

The International Grains Council has raised its projections for worldwide wheat, corn and soybean production in 2023-24.

The projects include better-than-expected corn yields in the United States and larger Black Sea wheat crops.

Total world wheat production in 2023-24 was pegged at 787 million tonnes by the IGC, which would be up by two million from the October estimate but still below the 804 million tonnes grown in 2022-23. If realized, the world wheat crop would still be the second largest on record.

Of the total, Russian and Ukrainian wheat production estimates were both raised slightly from the October estimate to 90 million and 28.7 million tonnes respectively.

Wheat production in the European Union was raised by 800,000 tonnes from October to 133.2 million tonnes, while Argentina’s crop was down by 900,000 on the month at 14.7 million tonnes.

World wheat ending stocks were forecast at 264 million tonnes, up by one million from October but below the 281 million tonne carryout in 2022-23.

Global corn production was raised to 1.223 billion tonnes, which compares with the October estimate of 1.219 billion tonnes and the year-ago level of 1.161 billion tonnes. The corn carryout was estimated at 285 million tonnes, up by two million from October and by 10 million from the year ago.

World soybean production is forecast to be up by seven percent on the year, hitting a record of 395 million tonnes. That would be up by two million tonnes from the October estimate. World soybean ending stocks were left unchanged on the month at 62 million tonnes, which would be up by eight million from the previous year.

Tags: wheat, yields, projections, Ukraine, Black Sea, Russia, estimates, corn, world, IGC, International Grains Council, United States, soybeans, ending stocks, Production