AGFACTS Newsbrief Summary - September 2011

·       Prices of five-year old used tractors are, on average, 11.5% higher than they were twelve months ago.

·       The seventh estimate of maize production for the 2010/2011 season is 10.679 million tons, 16.7% less than in the previous season.

·       Grain sorghum production is forecast to be 16% down on last year.   Groundnut production is forecast to be 18.7% down on the previous season.   Sunflower production is expected to be 75.9% up on last year.   Soya bean production is forecast to be 25.2% up on last year.   Dry Bean production is forecast to be 15.8% down on last year.

·       Revised area estimates for wheat for the 2011 season are 607 000 ha, 8.7% more than in the previous season.

·       The trend in the overall year-on-year price changes of agricultural machinery is still upwards.   The current overall year-on-year decrease in prices (smoothed) is 0.8%.

·       Year-to-date tractor sales to August amount to 4 414 units, 34.6% up on the same period last year.