BEIJING (Commodity Online) : World's top rice producer, China reduced the 2010 rice output forecast to 196.6 million metric tons from an estimate of 197.3 million tons made a month ago.

According to China National Grain & Oils Information Center production forecasts for other crops were maintained at 168 million tons of corn, 115.1 million tons of wheat, 14.5 million tons of soybeans and 12.6 million tons of rapeseed.

China is the world's largest producer of rice, and the crop makes up a little less than half of the country's total grain output. China accounts for 26% of all world rice production.

Every year China's total rice output came from four different crops. The early rice crop grows primarily in provinces along the Chang Jiang and in provinces in the south.

It is planted in February to April and harvested in June and July and contributes about 34 percent to total rice output.

Intermediate and single-crop late rice grows in the southwest and along the Chang Jiang; it is planted in March to June and harvested in October and November and also contributed about 34 percent to total rice output in the 1980s. Double-crop late rice, planted after the early crop is reaped, is harvested in October to November and adds about 25 percent to total rice production.

Rice grown in the north is planted from April to June and harvested from September to October; it contributes about 7 percent to total production.

China