The outlook for global cereal supply in the 2013-14 marketing season
remains generally favorable; world cereal production would surpass the
2012 level by nearly 8%, according to the latest issue of the United
Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) quarterly Crop
Prospects and Food Situation report.
The expected 8% increase in world cereal production this year over 2012
is mainly the result of an 11% anticipated expansion in coarse grains
output to about 1.288 billion tonnes. The U.S., the world's largest
maize producer, would account for the bulk of the increase, as it is
expected to harvest a record maize crop of 348 million tonnes, 27%
higher than the previous year's drought-reduced level.
International trade in cereals in 2013-14 is forecast to reach 312.4
million tonnes, 1.6% (4.8 million tonnes) higher than in 2012-13 and
slightly above the level expected in September. Trade in 2013-14 is
expected to benefit from larger export availabilities of coarse grains
in particular.
The Crop Prospects and Food Situation report highlights the following food insecurity hotspots, among others:
In Syria, due to conflict about 4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, an estimated 2.8 million
vulnerable people require food assistance until the next harvest in
October.
Despite an improved food supply situation this year in the Sahel, a
large number of people are still affected by conflict and the lingering
effects of the 2011-12 food crisis, notably in northern Mali.
In Central Africa, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe, Somalia, South Sudan and
Sudan, a lot of people are in need of humanitarian assistance due to
conflicts, natural disasters and other causes.
