CHILE (30 May)
Sowing of the 2003 wheat crop has started under generally dry weather conditions. Slightly above-average plantings are tentatively forecast, close to 2002 level. Harvesting of the 2003 maize crop is about to finish and an above-average output of some 920 000 tonnes to 940 000 tonnes is provisionally estimated.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2002/03 (December/November) are forecast at about 300 000 tonnes close to the previous year, while maize imports in marketing year 2003/04 (February/January) should be between 1.2 million tonnes and 1.3 million tonnes.