(Yicai Global) Aug. 19 -- China’s early rice output increased by 3.9 percent to 27.3 million tons from a year ago, after a seven-year decline, thanks to a sharp increase in the area under its cultivation.

The cereal grew on 4,751 hectares, up 6.8 percent from last year, according to data the National Bureau of Statistics released today.

However, the yield was down 2.7 percent to 5,745 kilograms per hectare due to severe floods in southern China at the later stage of growth.

China's early rice grows from April to July in southern provinces such as Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Guangxi.

Editor: Ben Armour