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FAO released a new forecast of world cereal production in 2013. This is expected to rise to 2 492 million tonnes. The forecast has been revised upwards by 14 million tonnes (or 0.5 percent) from the July forecast as a result of higher maize crops officially reported in Argentina and improved prospects in the EU and Ukraine.
At the latest forecast level, global cereal production would be 179 million tonnes (7.7 percent) higher than in 2012 and a new record.
The recovery is predicted to be driven by a 10.5 percent expansion in coarse grain output to 1 285 million tonnes as well as a 7.6 percent rise in wheat production to 710 million tonnes.
World rice production is set to increase by 1.3 percent, reaching a new high of 497 million tonnes, in milled equivalent.
US maize production bounces back
The sharp increase in global production of coarse grains in 2013 would be largely on account of a strong rebound in maize output (to 983 million tonnes), the bulk of which would originate from the United States, where maize production is forecast to reach 343 million tonnes this year, some 25 percent (69 million tonnes) higher than the 2012 drought-reduced level.
Cereal utilization
Global cereal utilization in 2013/14 is projected at 2 413 million tonnes, down marginally from the previous forecast, but still 3.2 percent higher than in 2012/13.
Based on the latest forecasts, total use of cereals for direct human consumption is set to expand by 1.2 percent to 1 094 million tonnes. This would result in global per capita cereal consumption remaining steady at just over 152 kg, with wheat at 67 kg and rice at close to 57 kg.
Cereal stocks
The forecast of world cereal stocks at the close of seasons in 2014 has been raised slightly since July, to 569 million tonnes, primarily on expectations of higher maize inventories. The revised forecast puts world cereal stocks 13 percent (65.5 million tonnes) above their low opening levels and at their highest since 2001/02
Based on the current projections of overall demand, the increase in stocks would drive up the global stock-to-use ratio to 23.3 percent, the highest since 2002/03.
Thursday September 5, 2013/ FAO.
http://www.fao.org
