CHILE (18 September)
Growing conditions of the 2003/04 wheat crop are reported as adequate. The area planted is officially estimated at 433 000 hectares, which compares to the above-average 416 000 hectares planted in 2002/03. The harvest should begin late in November; a satisfactory output has already been forecast, assuming that adequate weather conditions persist. Planting of the 2003/04 maize crop has only just started, and the intended planted area should increase slightly from the above-average 110 000 hectares planted in 2002/03.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2003/04 (December/November) are tentatively forecast at 300 000 tonnes, close to last year’s level. Maize imports in marketing year 2003/04 (April/March) are provisionally estimated at 1 million tonnes. This compares to about 1.1 million tonnes of maize imported the year before.