Global corn crop up 12 percent in two years | Food and Environment Reporting Network

Farmers around the world are boosting corn production by 12 percent, or 112 million tonnes, since drought-hit 2012, says the International Grains Council. Larger corn crops are the major reason for the surge in global grain production notwithstanding a record-large wheat crop this season, forecast for 713 million tonnes. IGC, based in London, estimated the global corn crop at 973 million tonnes this year, led by 355 million tonnes in the United States, more than a third of the world total. China is the second-largest grower, with 22 percent of the world crop.

The corn surplus was forecast by IGC to swell to 190 million tonnes, up 44 percent in two years, and the largest carryover since 1987. “Major exporter stocks appear ample,” said the grains council in a monthly report. Its next Grain Market Report is due on Sept 25.

World rice production would be a record 478 million tonnes this season, up marginally from 476 million tonnes in the previous harvest, said the council. “In contrast to wheat, maize and soyabeans, inventories in the five major rice exporters are projected to fall sharply at the end of 2014/15, marking the second consecutive annual decline, and reflecting contractions in Thailand and India.”