ECUADOR* (18 September)
Harvesting of the 2003 white maize crop, which accounts for about 25–30 percent of domestic maize production (white and yellow maize) has just been completed. Maize production for the year is provisionally estimated at 300 000 tonnes, slightly above the low output collected in 2002. The poor results this year are due mainly to the adverse weather which affected the yellow maize crops at planting and subsequently during the development period. Aggregate maize (white and yellow) production in the past three years has remained at a low of 300 000 tonnes per year, well below the volume of 611 000 tonnes collected in 2000.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2003/04 (July/June) are expected to be about 475 000 tonnes. Early forecasts place maize imports in marketing year 2004 (January/December) at 350 000 tonnes, very similar to imports in 2003.