China's Rice Output To Increase In 2007

China's wheat output this year is expected  to  fall  as  rough  rice output increases, the China National Grain and Oil Information Center said in its May forecast. Wheat output  is  expected  to  decrease  by  2.64 million tons, or 2.53 percent, from last year. The decline in wheat output is caused primarily by falling cultivations and drought in eastern China, which affected the growth of winter wheat. With only  one  month  ahead  of the large-scale wheat harvest in China, climate  conditions  this  month  could  possibly affect the final wheat output figure for this year, the CNGOIC said.

Rough rice  output  is  expected  to rise by 4.31 million MT to 186.88 million MT due to favorable cultivation conditions. Below is a table specifying the May statistics and forecast of wheat and rough rice cultivation and output from the CNGOIC. May statistics  and estimation for wheat cultivation.