Argentine farmers aim to produce around 18.6 million tons of wheat in 2024/25 — MercoPress

Argentine farmers plan to produce around 18.6 million tons of wheat in 2024/25

Exports are expected to reach 12.4 million tonnes, with Brazil being the main market, followed by Indonesia and several African countries.

USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) estimates Argentina’s wheat production will reach 18.6 million tonnes in 2024/25, up from 15.7 million tonnes in 2023-24. Planted area increased to 6.2 million hectares, with improved conditions in April and May encouraging farmers to plant more of the crop than originally planned.

Given this production, exports are expected to reach 12.4 million tonnes, up from 9.2 million tonnes in the previous season. The main exporter will be Brazil, followed by Indonesia and several African countries, FAS said.

For maize, production is forecast at 49 million tonnes, down 2 million tonnes from 2023-24 as the area planted is likely to fall by 200,000 hectares.

Argentina’s Agriculture Ministry said: “Planting of the new crop will start in late August/early September, and there are still questions about how much total planting area can be achieved due to the unusually severe corn stunting disease in central and northern Argentina, which has severely damaged the 2023-24 corn crop and reduced production by more than 15%.”

“In the northern regions, many farmers have now planted wheat to at least maintain some rotation.”

Softwood lumber exports are forecast to reach 35.5 million tonnes in 2024-25, up from 34 million tonnes in 2023-24.

“Farmers are selling at a slower pace than usual because most farmers are in relatively good financial shape and are holding on to as much corn and soybeans as possible in anticipation of a rebound in prices,” the USDA Agricultural Statistics Service said.