HAMBURG (April 23 2003) : Disease and weather damage have cut this year'sBrazilian soyabean crop below potential, Hamburg-based newsletter OilWorld said on Tuesday.

It currently estimates Brazil's soyabean crop this year at 50.30 milliontonnes, still a sharp rise from 42.80 million last year.

"Owing to the detrimental rainfall and disease damage in recent weeks wedo not follow those observers who peg this year's total crop at 51.0 to52.0 million tonnes," it said.

Oil World said South America's crop of 91.17 million tonnes this yearagainst 77.51 million last year would relieve strained global oilseedsupplies.

It currently estimates Argentina's soyabean crop this year at 35.0 milliontonnes from 30.10 million last year.

Paraguay's crop will also rise strongly to 4.40 million tonnes from 3.30million last year, while Uruguay's will rise to 170,000 tonnes from70,000.-Reuters