Breaking News-RTRS-China sees higher 2008 corn, rice output-CNGOIC

BEIJING, Jan 8 (Reuters) - China's corn production hit a record 165.5 million tonnes in 2008, a rise of 9 percent from 2007, the China National Grain and Oils Information Centre (CNGOIC) said on Thursday, as it revised its estimate upwards.

The think-tank kept its forecast for soybeans unchanged at 16.5 million tonnes, up 30 percent from 2007. Its soybean purchases have driven domestic soy prices above imports, prompting many crushers to shift to cheap overseas supplies.