India: Grain and Feed Annual
After a record harvest of 98.5 million metric ton (MMT) last year, India’s MY 2018/19 (April/March) wheat production is forecast lower at 94 MMT on lower planting, still a record fourth highest crop. Despite sufficient domestic supplies, MY 2018/19 wheat imports are forecast at 1.5 MMT to augment quality wheat requirement. India is set for a record MY 2017/18 (October/September) rice production of 110 MMT and record corn production of 26 MMT. Assuming a normal 2018 monsoon, MY 2018/19 rice production is forecast at 109 MMT from 43.5 million hectares, and corn production at 25.5 MMT from 9.2 million hectares...India’s record third highest harvest in both cases. India is the largest rice exporter in the world with MY 2017/18 rice exports estimated at a record 13 MMT and MY 2018/19 exports forecast slightly lower at 12 MMT on forecast relatively tight domestic supplies. Due to growing demand from the feed sector, India is likely to emerge as net importer of corn in MY 2018/19 with imports forecast at 0.5 MMT.
