SAO PAULO (May 21 2003) : Poor corn prices should prompt Brazilian farmersto expand soya planting in 2003-04 to put out as much as 10 milliontonnes, or 20 percent more soya than last season, analysts said onTuesday.

"If the climate is normal and the fall in corn prices holds, there couldbe a new expansion in soyabean planting," said, Flavio Turra, an economistat the Parana State Organisation of Co-operatives (Ocepar).

Turra said a 5 million to 10 million tonne increase in Brazil's soyaproduction was possible next season although farmers' planting intentionswere not totally defined. The state of Parana is Brazil's main cornproducer and No 2 soya grower.

The Agriculture Ministry recently estimated Brazil's 2002-03(September-August) soya crop at 50.3 million tonnes, up 20 percent from2001-02.

Ocepar's estimate slightly exceeds the forecast of analysts Agroconsult,which sees the next crop at 56 million to 57 million tonnes.