Rio de Janeiro, Nov 9 (EFE) .- The Brazilian grain harvest in 2018 must be 8.9% less than this year, with a total forecast of 220.2 million tons, reported today the Government.

The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) released the first estimate of the Brazilian grain harvest for next year, in which all the regions of the country should have a reduction in their harvest, highlighting the south (-12.3%) and the center-west (-8.0%).

According to the IBGE, the lower production of %) should encourage a lower grain harvest.

Of the five main agricultural products in Brazil, four must have a smaller crop: in addition to soybeans and corn, the production of cotton (1.5%) and rice (-6.8%) should fall.

For its part, the IBGE assured that the Brazilian grain harvest for this year must be of a tons, which represents an increase of 30% compared to 185.8 million tons harvested last year.

The area harvested this year should be 61.2 million tons. hectares, 7.2% more than in 2016.

Rice, corn and soybeans are still, in this order, the main agricultural products of Brazil, representing together 93.8% of the production and 87.9% of all plantations.

According to the institute, compared to 2016, soybean production this year should grow by 19.4%, rice by 16.0% 54.9%.