The estimated size of the commercial maize crop is just short of 7,5 million tons, about 25,18% or 2,5 million tons less than the 9,9 million tons of last season, with an expected yield of 3,73 t/ha.
The preliminary area estimate for white maize is roughly one million hectares, which represents a decrease of 28,69% or 415 400ha compared to the more than 1,4 million hectares planted last season.
In the case of yellow maize the area estimate is 962 500ha, 20% less than the 1,2 million hectares planted last season.
The production forecast for white maize is 3,26 million tons, 30% less than the 4,7 million tons of last season. The yield is expected to be 3,16t/ha.
For yellow maize, the estimate is 4,17 million tons, or 20% less than the 5,2 million tons of last season. The yield is expected to be 4,33t/ha.
The preliminary planting estimate for sunflower is up 7% from the previous season to 617 000ha. However, the production forecast is 622 000t, a decrease of almost 6% compared with the previous season.
