China's grain output is expected to top 500 million tons for the third consecutive year in 2009, said an official from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) Monday.

The country's planting area was expected to increase 34 million mu (2.27 million hectares) this year, the biggest rise since 2006,which was a major contributor to this year's grain production growth, said Ye Zhenqin, director with the Planting Industry Management Department of the MOA, at a press conference.