BEIJING: China has lowered estimates of 2021/22 corn output as rains hit the new crop in parts of the northern region, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.

China’s 2021/22 corn output was seen at 271 million tonnes, down 850,000 tonnes from its previous monthly crop report forecast, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said.

The ministry cut its estimate of corn yield in the new crop year to 6,350 kilograms per hectare, down 20 kg from its forecast in September, the monthly China Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates (CASDE) report showed.

The cut was prompted by the unfavourable impact of constant rain since September on the yield and quality of the corn crop in northern China, the report said.

Heavy rains have delayed the corn harvest in the region, and damaged quality of the new crop.

Moisture and temperature conditions in the central and northern parts of the northeastern region are good overall and favourable for corn output, the report added.— Reuters