Argentina's 2011-12 corn production was hit by drought damage in December and January, and production is expected to reach just 21.3 million metric tons, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said in its weekly crop report Thursday.

That's down from 22 million tons forecast by the exchange last week. Early in the season, as much as 30 million tons had been expected, but the hot, dry summer baked many of the fields.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also cut its corn forecast for Argentina on Thursday to 22 million tons, down from its forecast of 26 million tons last month.

Estimates for Argentina's 2011-12 crop production in million of hectares (HA) or millions of metric tons (MT) (One hectare equals 2.47 acres):

Wheat      Soy         Corn        Sunseed 
 
B.A. Cereals Exch    14MT       46.2MT      22MT         3.5MT 
Ag Ministry          13.4MT     48.9MT      23MT         1.8HA 
USDA                 14.5MT     48MT        22MT         3.2MT 
Rosario Grain Exch   13.7MT     49.5MT      21.4MT(21.4)    -- 
Agritrend            --         46MT        21MT         3.3MT 
Granar               --         47.8-49MT   18.5-20.2MT  3.5MT 
Panagricola          --         45MT        21MT         -- 
Agripac              --         49MT        27MT         -- 
Lartirigoyen         --         45.5MT      18.5MT       3.4MT

Argentina's historical production in millions of metric tons, according to the USDA:

Wheat      Soy         Corn        Sunseed 
2010-11              15         49          22.5         3.6 
2009-10              9.6        54.5        22.5         2.3 
2008-09              10.1       32          15           2.9 
2007-08              18.6       46.2        22           4.65 
2006-07              16.3       48.8        22.5         --

-By Shane Romig, Dow Jones Newswires; 54-11-4103-6738; shane.romig@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 09, 2012 12:25 ET (17:25 GMT)