China's overall grain output is expected to reach 480 billion kilograms this year, if the weather permits, said Chen Xiwen, director of the rural work office of thecentral government.

He said the overall grain output in 2003 was only 430.7 billionkilograms, the lowest of the past 14 years, due to the slump situation in China's agricultural market. However, the total output increased 38.75 billion kilograms in 2004, the biggest growth in history.

Chen said the grain production maintained a good momentum of development in the first half of this year. The overall summer grain increased 5.1 percent compared with the previous year.

Source: Xinhua