Brazil's overall sowing is at 89 percent of the expected total, compared to 97 percent a year earlier, analyst AgRural said. Above-average rainfall fell over Mato Grosso in November and the state has received some 15 percent of the precipitation it usually gets in December, or late spring in South America. No 2 soya growing state Parana was dry in November and has had only 6mm (0.24 inches) of rain so far in December, but Somar forecast 51mm of rain there for this week.
"Areas of instability and a cold front bring a week of well-distributed rain over the producing regions of Brazil," Somar said in a daily weather bulletin. That is good news for traders looking to South America to help offset losses in the US grain belt caused by drought. Brazil is expected to surpass the United States as the world's No 1 producer of the oilseed this season. Brazil's government food supply agency Conab forecast 82.6 million tonnes of soyabeans on Thursday in its third official report of the season.