| Oct 12 2023 | North Korea Rice: Production Increased Due to Higher-Than Expected Harvested Area |
USDA estimates North Korea’s marketing year 2023/24 milled rice production at 1.47 million metric tons (mmt), up 8 percent or approximately 110,000 metric tons (mt) from last month and last year, and up 1 percent from the 5-year average of 1.46 mmt. Area is estimated at 541,000 hectares (ha), 8 percent above last month and last year, and up approximately 11 percent from the 5-year average of 488,000 ha. Yield (rough) is estimated approximately at 4.18 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha), same as last month and last year, but down 9 percent from the 5-year average of 4.61 mt/ha. (For more information, contact Dath.Mita@usda.gov.)
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| Nov 9 2016 | South Korea Rice: Production Estimate Revised Upward |
South Korea’s 2016/17 rice production is estimated at 4.2 million tons, up 0.2 million or 5
percent from last month, but down 3 percent from last year. Rice area is estimated at 0.78
million hectares, down slightly from last month and down 3 percent from last year.
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| Sep 13 2007 | North Korea Corn and Rice: Crops Damaged by Severe Flooding |
Production of corn and rice in North Korea is expected to drop by a combined 170,000 tons in2007/08 due to severe flooding in August. Corn production is estimated at 1.6 million tons,down 70,000 tons or 4 percent from last month and last year due to lower estimated yield. Riceproduction is estimated at 1.45 million tons (milled basis), down 100,000 tons or 6 percent fromlast month and last year, also due to lower yield.
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| Aug 11 2006 | Lower Rice Crop in North Korea |
North Koreas milled rice production for 2006/07 is estimated at 1.55 million tons (2.39 million tons rough basis), down 50,000 tons or 3 percent from last year. The estimated area of 585,000 hectares is down slightly from last month and equal to last year, while the estimated yield of 2.65 tons per hectare is down 3 percent from last month and close to the 2004/05 estimated yield. Two major storms between July 10 and July 20 brought some of the heaviest rainfall in years to central and southern North Korea, where a majority of the nations rice crop is grown. The North Korean government and international aid organizations reported serious flooding and property damage in the provinces of South Pyongan, South Hwanghae, South Hamyong, Kangwon, and Kaesong, particularly in the mountains and along the Taedong River near Pyongyang. It was reported that hundreds of thousands of hectares were submerged and up to 30,000 hectares of cropland were destroyed. Authorities are still assessing the full impact of the flooding on crop production. Recent warmer and drier weather has aided the recovery efforts. The rice crop is now in the heading stage, and continued warm temperatures and moderate showers will be needed this month to support normal crop development . (For more information, contact Paulette Sandene, 202-690-0133).
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| May 12 2006 | Foreign Rice Output Expected To Rise For 2006/07 |
Foreign milled rice production for 2006/07 is estimated at 410.5 million tons, up 6.1 million or 1.5 percent from last year. The increase is due to a small rise in both estimated area (152.05 million hectares, up 1.5 million) and forecast yield. Production is expected to drop by 300,000 tons in Pakistan due to lower yields (down from last year's record level). In Japan and South Korea, government-mandated area reductions and declining yields are expected to cut production this year. The largest production gains are expected in India (up 2.1 million tons) and China (up 1.6 million). However, the largest percent production increases are expected in Australia and Brazil (both up 9 percent) due to higher forecast yields. Higher production is anticipated in Nigeria (up 100,000 tons) as well as the major rice producers in Southeast Asia, notably Bangladesh (up 800,000 tons) and Cambodia (up 190,000 tons). Only minor year-to-year area and production changes are expected in the EU, other Central and South America countries, the former Soviet Republics, and Africa. (For more information, contact Paulette Sandene at 202-690-0133).
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| Feb 1 1997 | NORTH KOREA: GRAIN PRODUCTION REVISED LOWER |
Total-grain production (milled rice, corn, wheat) in North Korea for
1996/97 is estimated at 2.4 million tons, down 1.0 million or 30 percent
from last season. This is the lowest level for North Korean production
since 2.6 million tons were estimated for the 1968/69 season. Milled
rice output is estimated at 1.3, equaling last season's flood-damaged
crop. For 1996/97, low spring temperatures delayed planting and
unusually heavy rain in late-July caused serious localized flooding,
especially in southwestern North Korea. However, hot and drier weather
in August and mild weather allowed some damaged rice to recover.
Harvested area is estimated at last season's level of 0.6 million
hectares, due to the July flooding and lingering affects of last year's
floods. Yield is estimated at 3.25 tons per hectare (paddy basis) or 2
percent below the 5-year average.
Corn production is estimated at 1.0 million tons, down 1.0 million or 50
percent from last season. Heavy rains in July caused area and
production losses (about 50,000 hectares and 150,000 tons), but
significant losses occurred prior to harvest. According to the U.S.
agricultural attache in Seoul, as much as half the corn crop was
consumed as fresh corn during the late summer to supplement declining
food rations. (USDA database reflects corn for grain only and not fresh
corn.) Harvested area declined to 0.3 million hectares or 50 percent
from last season due to the early harvest. Yield is estimated at 3.33
tons per hectare, up 3 percent from the 5-year average. Wheat
production is estimated at 0.2 million tons, unchanged from last season.
The wheat output estimate has been relatively constant throughout the
past several years.
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| Aug 1 1997 | NORTH KOREA: DROUGHT CUTS RICE AND CORN OUTPUT |
An extended drought centered on the northern half of the country has had a serious impact on North Korea's rice and corn output for 1997/98. The corn crop is estimated at 1.3 million tons, down 0.5 million or 28 percent from last month and down 35 percent from an average level. The projected yield of 2.17 tons/hectare is the lowest in more than 30 years. Rice output for 1997/98 was reduced 8 percent this month to 1.25 million tons (milled basis) and is down 4 percent from last year's weather-reduced crop. Recent rainfall has improved moisture conditions in the western part of the country, but the rainfall deficit is still very large in many locations, especially in the north and east. This year's drought follows two consecutive years of destructive flooding that reduced the corn and rice crops.
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| Oct 1 1997 | NORTH KOREA: CORN OUTPUT HURT BY DROUGHT |
North Korea's corn output in 1997/98 has suffered from a serious summer drought that had centered on the northern half of the country. Because of the drought, production is now estimated at 800,000 tons, down 38 percent from last month and down 20 percent from last year's flood-reduced crop of 1.0 million tons. Moderate rainfall and cooler temperatures in August and September stabilized rice yield prospects but came too late to help the corn crop which had been damaged by high temperatures and dryness earlier in the summer.
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| Dec 1 1997 | SOUTH KOREA: RICE YIELD AT RECORD LEVEL DUE TO IDEAL WEATHER |
South Korea's 1997/98 rice crop is estimated at 5.5 million tons (milled basis), up 2 percent from last year and the largest crop since 1990/91. Planted area increased slightly from last season and favorable weather led to a record yield. The crop benefitted from adequate rainfall during the growing season, moderate temperatures, and minimal harvest losses from late-season typhoons. Other factors that contributed to the bumper harvest include higher plant density and the effective use of agricultural inputs.
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| Dec 1 1997 | NORTH KOREA: CORN AND RICE OUTPUT REVISED HIGHER |
North Korea's 1997/98 corn output is estimated at 1.5 million tons, the smallest corn crop in 20 years. Production is revised 0.5 million tons higher this month as a USDA analyst traveling in North Korea found little evidence that farmers picked corn early for consumption. Area is estimated at 600,000 hectares and yield is estimated at 2.50 tons per hectare, about 25 percent below last year's flood-impacted crop and 35 to 40 percent below the long-term average. The estimate is based primarily on information obtained during a recent trip to North Korea by a USDA analyst, who engaged in field travel and met with North Korea Ministry of Agriculture officials, provincial and county agricultural officials, and state and cooperative farm managers.
While the primary weather event affecting 1997 corn production was a severe June/July drought with high temperatures that sharply reduced corn yields, many other factors contributed to low production in 1997/98. Fertilizer applications were reportedly less than half recommended levels. Weeds and insects reduced expected yields in the virtual absence of herbicides and pesticides. A lack of fuel and spare parts for agricultural machinery also constrained production. Corn varieties appeared to be poorly adapted to North Korean growing conditions, but there was no evidence of effective plant breeding underway. To compensate for the shortages of farm equipment and agrochemicals, North Korea uses cultivation practices that depend on intensive manual labor.
Rice production is estimated at 1.5 million tons (milled basis) from 600,000 hectares. Production is estimated up 0.25 million tons from last month and up 0.20 million tons from last year's flood-damaged crop. Plentiful rainfall in May across the country supported rice transplanting. The northern and western part of the country experienced serious drought in mid-summer, but resumption of rainfall in August and September helped keep yields from dropping farther. The yield is estimated at 3.62 tons per hectare, the highest level since 3.87 tons in 1991/92, but down about 25 percent from the long-term average. Yields were highest in the south-west part of North Korea (adjacent to South Korea where a record yield was harvested) due to generally favorable weather.
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| Dec 1 1998 | SOUTH KOREA: RICE OUTPUT RAISED |
The 1998/99 milled rice production for South Korea is raised 0.3 million tons this month to an estimated 5.0 million as producers overcame severe weather constraints by greatly increasing the use of fertilizer, pesticide and fungicide. Yield is estimated at 6.38 tons per hectare, up 6 percent from last month, but down 9 percent from last season and near the five-year average. According to the U.S. agriculture attache in Seoul, mountain production areas experienced lower-than-normal temperatures during June and July that retarded yields. Southwest provinces suffered continuously overcast conditions during July and August that hampered normal development leaving plants susceptible to wind, insect, and disease damage. Northwest provinces flooded under torrential rains during late July/early August that washed out many paddy fields. Also, southeast provinces flooded late in the season due to typhoon Yanni. Sprout damage due to lodging is estimated at eight percent of production on that acreage. The crop's quality is suspect with breakage expected to be substantially higher than normal.
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| Dec 1 1999 | NORTH KOREA: GRAIN SITUATION IMPROVED OVER LAST YEAR |
The 1999/2000 total grain production (milled rice, corn and wheat) for North Korea is estimated 3.5 million tons, up slightly from 1998/99. Hot and dry weather in early summer stressed non-irrigated corn, barley, and other miscellaneous grains, but conditions were more favorable than in 1997, the last time the country was hit by a serious drought. Heavy rainfall in August reduced rice quality, and the southwest coast suffered minor flood losses from a late-season typhoon. Harvest weather was favorably dry.
Milled rice production is estimated at 1.6 million tons, up 0.1 million from last month and 0.2 million from last year due to higher yield. Area was unchanged at 0.6 million hectares, and yield reached an estimated 3.86 tons per hectare, the highest since 1990/91. An increase in the area planted to improved variety rice, timely rainfall, a larger supply of fertilizer, and a lack of major pest or disease problems contributed to the improved yield this season.
Corn production is revised downward this month by 0.1 million tons to 1.6 million in response to lower estimated area and yield. Area is estimated at 575,000 hectares, down 50,000 from last year, as farmers were encouraged to take marginal land out of production and shift from corn to other crops, such as potatoes. The estimated yield of 2.78 tons per hectare is lower than last year due to stressful conditions in June and July, but still higher than the drought-reduced crop of 1997/98.
Wheat/barley production is estimated at 250,000 tons, more than twice the size of last years crop, due to a large increase in planted area and higher yield. The North Korean government and international aid agencies have promoted the expansion of double-cropped winter wheat and barley as a way to increase total grain output. Estimated winter wheat yield is higher than normal due to favorable spring weather.
With the active participation of international aid agencies, the North Korea government is encouraging farmers to plant a greater variety of crops, increase the use of higher-yielding seeds, expand double-cropping and crop rotation, and adopt a more rational use of arable land. The agricultural system in North Korea is slowly beginning to show signs of recovery from a series of damaging floods and droughts in the 1990's, but grain deficits will remain for the near term.
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| Oct 1 2003 | South Korea: 2003/04 Rice Crop Damaged by Typhoon |
South Koreas 2003/04 rice crop is estimated at 4.5 million tons, down 0.2 million or 4 percent from last month and down 9 percent from last year. This would be the smallest crop in 23 years. The estimated area of 1.02 million hectares is unchanged this month, but down 3.5 percent from last year and the lowest area since 1974. The reduction was in response to government policies that encouraged farmers to cut rice area and shift paddy land to other crops in order to reduce excessive stocks. The estimated yield of 6.0 tons per hectare (rough basis) is down 5 percent from last year and down 9 percent from the 5-year average. Unusually cool temperatures in July and excessive rainfall all summer has had a negative effect on rice yields in 2003/04. In addition, Typhoon Maemi, one of the most powerful typhoons in Koreas history, damaged more than 88,000 hectares of maturing rice in mid-September. The largest crop losses from flooding and lodging were reported in the southeastern part of South Korea. (For more information, contact Paulette Sandene at 202-690-0133)
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