Brazil's 2004/2005-soya harvest should increase 28.3 percent to reach 63.29 million tonnes, according to research by the Agroconsult constancy. The Asian rust disease, excessive rain in the center-west of Brazil and drought in the south of the country hit Brazil's 2003/2004 crop hard. "Current climate conditions have been favourable for crops in the majority of the country's grain producing regions," Agroconsult said in its first crop forecast for the year, carried out between January 25 and January 28.

The Agroconsult estimate is slightly above that of other private agricultural consultancies and also that of Brazil's crop supply department Confab, that had an estimate of 61.41 million tonnes in its last 2004/2005 forecast.

It remains below that of the government's IBGE statistics office, which saw the 2004/2005 crop, reaching a record 63.43 million tonne in its third forecast for the new harvest.

Copyright Reuters, 2005