Grain output expected to increase despite damage from rain and flooding

The recent rain and flooding will not stop grain output from recovering from last year’s near 10-year low, the Central Statistical Office (GUS) said yesterday. According to preliminary GUS data, which take into account only the first few days of heavy rains that hit Poland in the second half of July, total grain output is estimated to rise by around 20%, to between 25 million and 26.1 million tonnes this year. “These preliminary estimates do not take into account the last 10 days of the month, and do not account for all damage caused particularly by the gusting winds, heavy rainfall, and hail,” GUS head Tadeusz Toczynski told a news conference. “But despite the rains and recent flooding in the south of Poland, we still estimate that the total grain output will be higher than in 2000,” he added. Independent analysts have said that the flooding in southern Poland and earlier storms across the country may depress output to around 24 million tonnes this year. GUS is expected to release updated estimates of this year’s grain output on September 30. (Reuters)