AGFACTS Newsbrief Summary - September 2009

·       Prices of five-year old used tractors are, on average, 18% higher than they were twelve months ago.

·       The final estimate of maize production for the 2008/2009 season is 11.684 million tons, 8% less than the previous season.

·       Grain sorghum production is forecast to be 4% up on last year.   Groundnut production is forecast to be 8% up on the previous season.   Sunflower production is expected to be 3% down on last year.   Soya bean production is forecast to be 80% up on last year.   Dry Bean production is forecast to be 14% up on last year.

·       Revised area estimates for wheat for the 2009 season are 656 000 ha, 12% less than in the previous season.

·       The trend in the overall year-on-year price changes of agricultural machinery is still downwards.   The current overall year-on-year increase in prices (smoothed) is 13.7%.

·       Year-to-date tractor sales to August amount to 3 739 units, 21% down on last year.