The 2012 estimate is slightly higher than an earlier forecast of 197 million tonnes, and was due to increased planting acreage.

Output for soybeans, for which China is the top importer, is expected to fall 11.6 percent from a year earlier to 12.8 million tonnes, CNGOIC said in the report published on Tuesday. Its August forecast was for a 10.3 percent decline to 13 million tonnes.

Production forecasts for the other crops were unchanged.

China, traditionally a net corn exporter, has emerged as a major importer of the grain in recent years as the government strives to supply livestock feed to meet fast-growing demand for meat amid near-record domestic corn prices.

The following table gives a detailed breakdown of grain output published by the center and year-on-year changes.