Brazilian growers of soybeans expect that suitable weather, including steady rain, will mean an early harvest, at the end of next month, which may help them meet demand for soybeans in China, DTN reports.

The agricultural news agency, citing the findings of research by Brazilian consultants AgRural, says soybean farmers have already planted 82 per cent of their area, a bigger area than the usual 67 percent at this time of the year.

The report quotes a representative of AgRural in Mato Grosso, the largest soybean-producing Brazilian state, Rafael Silva, as saying: “Brazil may harvest 1 percent of its soybeans in December and close to 20 percent in January.”

Brazilian producers expect greater Chinese demand for newly harvested soybeans, the report says.

“An early harvest will help Brazilian soybean exports to start early to feed the hungry Chinese market,” DTN quotes Mr Silva as saying.