PERU (18 September)
The peak of the wheat crop harvest operations in 2003 has been reached and the output collected is above that of 2002 for the same period. The harvest should continue through October; total wheat production for 2003 is provisionally estimated at 190 000 tonnes, some 8–9 percent above the average of the past five years. Wheat is grown mostly in the highlands and is used for direct local consumption. Harvesting of the 2003 white maize crop has been completed, while the yellow maize crop harvest is well advanced. Outputs collected so far exceed those of 2002 for the same period and early forecasts for aggregate maize production (yellow and white) for 2003 predict an above average output of 1.3 million–1.4 million tonnes, which compares to 1.29 million tonnes harvested in 2002.
Despite the above-average wheat output obtained in 2003, wheat imports in marketing year 2004 (January/December) are expected to increase slightly from the relatively high level of imports in 2003, thus reflecting the strong demand for this staple in the population’s diet. Maize imports in 2004 (January/December) are forecast at some 600 000 tonnes, close to the level of imports in 2003.