India: Grain and Feed Update
On February 28, 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare forecast in its second advance estimate of the Indian crop year (ICY) 2018/19 (July/June) grain production at 281.4 million metric tons (MMT), more than 2 MMT lower than last year’s record production. Despite a weak 2018 monsoon, the Ministry predicts record production of rice, and near record production of wheat, but a significantly lower production of largely unirrigated corn, other coarse grains and pulses. MY 2018/19 rice production is revised higher to a record 114 MMT, ending stocks to 24.6 MMT, and exports lower to 12 MMT. MY 2018/19 wheat ending stocks have been revised higher to 17 MMT and consumption lower to 90.5 MMT.
