The U.S. ag attache in Brazil has issued its first look at the 2012-13 corn crop, pegging production at a record 68 million metric tons (MMT) due in part to an expected 12% increase in planted area. The attache left its estimate of 2011-12 production at 62 MMT.

"Corn production area (2012-13) is forecast at 16 million hectares, a 12% increase from the 2011-12 production area (though only a 6% increase in planted area—since 6% of the 2011-12 planted area was abandoned due to the drought). Post forecasts that the first-crop corn production area will remain constant and that overall 2012-13 area gains will come from increased second-crop corn production," it states. "In essence, half of that 12% increase corresponds to the recovery of the corn area lost to the drought; the remaining 6% growth will come from increased second-crop corn production, particularly in the states of Mato Grosso, Goiás, and Paraná."

In the year ahead, the attache expects record exports of 12.5 MMT.

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