Conab is optimistic due to the expansion in planted area, "driven by the products' good market prices," although weather in the months to come is a determinant factor.

The highlights remain the same: soy, at an estimated production of 59.4 million tonnes, 1.7% more than the 58.4 million tonnes recorded in the last harvest; the first crop of maize, which should total 37.3 million tonnes, or 2% more than in the last crop; and cottonseed, at 2.5 million tonnes, a 5.5% increase.

The expectation for the first crop of bean has maintained its trend of a 6% decrease, and should total 1.47 million tonnes, due to the lack of rain and the low temperatures in producer states in the months of August and September, according to the Conab.

The estimated increase in planted area stood at 1.2% using the same basis for comparison. Total planted area should be 46.8 million hectares, against 46.2 million for the previous crop.

Soy remains the leading agricultural product, rising from 20.7 million to 21.2 million hectares due to resumption of planting in areas that had stopped being cultivated in the 2006-2007 harvest. Next up come the first crops of maize (from 9.5 million to 9.8 million hectares) and cotton (from 1.1 million to 1.2 million hectares).