Despite unfavorable weather, China has had a successful summer harvest this year, with summer grain output up 2.5 percent year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The NBS said in a statement posted on its website that this year's summer grain output currently stands at 126.27 million metric tons, up 2.5 percent, or 3.12 million metric tons, from a year ago.

The increased output was the result of expanded harvesting areas and higher yields, the NBS said.

Farmers planted a total of 27.56 million hectares of grain this year, a year-on-year increase of 0.4 percent. Grain yield per hectare climbed 2.1 percent year-on-year to reach 4,582 kg per hectare.

China's summer grain output declined 0.3 percent year-on-year to hit 123.1 million metric tons last year after rising for six straight years. In 2010, grain output rose 2.9 percent year-on-year to 546.41 million metric tons.

This year's harvest is expected to ease pressure on the nation's surging inflation rate after a severe spring drought and rain-triggered flooding in the country's agricultural areas triggered worries about this year's grain output.

China's consumer price index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation, rose 6.4 percent year-on-year in June, reaching its highest level since June 2008, the NBS said Saturday.

China's Ministry of Agriculture said that the harvest will ensure supplies of grain, stabilize prices and manage inflationary expectations. The ministry added that it expects fall's grain harvest to be stable with a possible increase in output.

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