Output of the 2002 wheat crop is provisionally estimated at 17.5 million tonnes compared to 16 million tonnes in 2001. Good winter rains and snow cover have helped boost yields. Wheat imports in 2001/02 (July/June) are forecast at 1 million tonnes compared with 0.4 million tonnes estimated for the previous year. Maize imports are also forecast to increase by nearly 442 000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes. Exports of wheat in the year ending June 2002 are expected to decline sharply.