Bangladesh Government Extends 2014-15 Boro Rice Procurement Deadline by One Month
Sep 08, 2014
The Bangladesh government has extended its Boro rice procurement deadline for FY 2014-15 (July - June) by one month to September 30, 2014 as it could not achieve the original target of procuring one million tons of Boro milled rice and 150,000 tons of Boro paddy by August 31, 2014. Procurement of Boro rice and paddy started on May 1, 2014.As of August 31, the government authorities could procure only 835,525 tons of Boro milled rice (around 774,622 tons of boiled rice and around 60,903 tons of non-boiled rice) and 9,823 tons of paddy. The government intended to buy milled rice from millers and paddy from farmers directly. Local sources say around 15,062 millers supplied rice to the government.Local sources have quoted the officials of the Directorate General of Food as saying that they are not sure of achieving the set target despite extending the deadline. They say price differences between local market prices and the government fixed price are prompting rice millers to sell rice in the open market rather than supplying it to the government. They also noted that heavy monsoon rains also contributed partly to the slow procurement.
Based on the expected production costs of Tk 17.50 per kilogram (around $221 per ton) for paddy and Tk 26.50 per kilogram (around $334 per ton) for milled rice, the government has fixed Tk 31 per kilogram (around $391 per ton) for milled rice and Tk 20 per kilogram (around $252 per ton) for paddy. However, market prices of all varieties of milled rice currently stand between Tk 33 - 36 per kilogram (around $418 - $456) per ton. Local sources say domestic paddy prices have also gone up significantly since last one month.
Last year, the government Boro rice procurement stood at around 831,166 tons, down about 8% from the targeted 900,000 tons mainly due to low prices offered by the government.USDA estimates Bangladesh to produce around 34.8 million tons of rice in MY 2014-15 (May - April), up about 1% from an estimated 34.59 million tons in MY 2013-14.
Tags: Bangladesh rice procurement, Bangladesh Boro rice procurement, Bangladesh rice production
Basmati Rice Growers in Indian State Punjab Face Double Whammy with Poor Procurement and Milling Facilities
Sep 08, 2014
Increased basmati rice acreage and expected increase in output are not making Punjab farmers very happy, say local sources. Basmati rice farmers in Punjab are concerned about poor procurement and milling facilities in the state.According to official sources, basmati rice acreage in the state in this kharif season (June - December) has crossed over 650,000 hectares, about 25% of the total 2.8 million hectares under paddy cultivation. Experts are expecting an output of 4 million tons, about 30% of the state's total paddy output of around 12 million tons.
Farmers told local sources that they have requested the state government to make requisite arrangements for proper procurement of basmati, without which they may have to face severe trouble. They also noted that milling of basmati requires sophisticated equipment and the state presently lacks milling infrastructure to accommodate such high output. Some farmers' representatives have recommended that Haryana traders could be allowed to buy basmati paddy from Punjab farmers by exempting 25 rural development fund (RDF) and 2% market fee. They are also expecting a price of around Rs.4,000 per quintal (around $664 per ton) for their output.
Local sources say nearly 25,000 - 30,000 commission agents have been involved for procuring basmati rice from farmers and selling it to exporters.Officials at the Indian Agriculture Ministry have estimated basmati rice acreage in the 2014 kharif rice season (June - December) at around 3.5 million hectares, up about 40% from around 2.5 million hectares planted last year, according to local sources.
India exported around 3.76 million tons of basmati rice in FY 2013-14 (April - March), up about 9% from around 3.46 million tons exported in FY 2012-13, according to data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). India exported a total of 10.78 million tons of rice (including basmati and non-basmati) in FY 2013-14, up about 6% from about 10.15 million tons exported last year.
Tags: India basmati rice production, Basmati rice procurement, Basmati rice milling
Hong Kong Academic's Views on Rice Bucket Challenge
Sep 08, 2014
Dr Rajesh Sharma, assistant professor in the School of Law at City University of Hong Kong, writes in South China Morning Post print edition: "Although this [rice bucket challenge] challenge has not received the same media fanfare as the Ice Bucket Challenge, it has been quietly achieving its purpose of ensuring a poor person does not go to bed hungry. The biggest support has come from university students who donated 2,200kg of rice in a single day.
"According to the report in scmp.com, the rice bucket challenge is a good example of how people can help each other in small ways and, most importantly, how resources can be redistributed for public benefit, something which governments are unable to do in free-market economies.He says in the report that the rice bucket challenge is need-based and reaches those who require help immediately. In developing countries like India and China, such need-based initiatives may prove a more useful tool.
Full report on: http://www.scmp.com/comment/article/1587914/hungry-indias-challenge-rice...
Tags: Dr rajesh, hong kong, rice bucket challenge, ice bucket challenge, ALS, india. hungry, manju kalanidhi, rice news
Oryza Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Begin the Week with Loss as Grains Continue to Slide
Sep 08, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for Nov delivery settled 4.5 cents per cwt (about $1 per ton) lower at $12.445 per cwt (about $274 per ton). Rough rice futures began the week on a negative note, continuing lower as a bearish grain complex once again weighed on the market. The other grains closed sharply lower with only wheat managing to limit losses to less than a 1% decline on the day; soybeans closed about 1.3% lower at $10.0850 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.3% lower at $5.3350 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 2.2% lower at $3.4825 per bushel.
U.S. stocks declined on Monday, as concerns about economic growth around the world and geopolitical uncertainty had investors retreating after a fifth week of gains lifted the S&P 500 to a record, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average not far behind. President Barack Obama is scheduled to address the nation a day after meeting with congressional leaders on Tuesday to lay out his plan to combat Sunni extremists of Islamic State. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 55.97 points, or 0.3%, to 17,081.39. The energy sector fell the most among the 10 major industry groups on the S&P 500, lately down 11.93 points, or 0.6%, at 1,995.78. The Nasdaq fell 11.60 points, or 0.3%, to 4,571.30. Gold is trading about 0.9% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 0.9% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.6% higher at about 1:00pm Chicago time.
Friday, there were 456 contracts traded, up from 452 contracts traded on Thursday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Friday increased by 131 contracts to 9,074.
Tags: U.S. rice prices, U.S. rice market, chicago rough rice futures
Oryza August 2014 Rice Market Review
Sep 08, 2014
The Oryza White Rice Index (WRI), a weighted average of global white rice export quotes, ended the month of August at about $475 per ton, down about $8 per ton from a month ago and down about $21 per ton from a year ago. The Asia rice prices were mostly firm in August, reflecting a shortening of supplies ahead of major harvests due in the last quarter of 2014. Rice prices were more subdued in the Americas, although American rice remains substantially dearer than Asian rice.The FAO All Rice Price Index averaged 242 points in August 2014, which compares with 238 points in July, marking the third month of continuous rises.The IGC estimated 2014 global rice trade at about 40 million tons, up about 5% from about 38 million tons in 2013 due to increased imports by Far East Asian countries such as China, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as the African nations. While, the IGC estimates 2013-14 global rice production at about 476 million tons, up about 1% from about 472 million tons in 2012-13 due to improved output in South Asia, South America and sub-Saharan African countries. The IGC expects 2013-14 world rice ending stocks to decline to about 109 million tons from about 110 million tons in the previous year.
Thailand
Thailand 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $440 per ton, up about 1% from a month ago and up about 5% from a year ago. Thailand rice prices are expected to increase in December as Under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s order, the prices of five-kilogram bags of rice will remain between 80-130 baht per pack (about $500-800 per ton) only until November end and likely to rise by 5-10 baht per pack (about $32-62 per ton). The price stability is a result of the NCPO’s bid to keep the cost of living low for its citizens.
In beginning of the August, Thailand holds an auction of about 167,000 tons of rice which was not so successful. Although this auction attracted huge number of bidders, Thailand's Commerce Ministry was able to sell only about 73,000 tons of rice to 12 bidders due to lower bidding prices. Meanwhile, Thailand Commerce Ministry is planning to sell about 500,000 - 600,000 tons of rice each month and complete all sales within the next three years. Thailand government is also planning to amend rice auction conditions, including setting up flexible floor prices to ensure smooth sales as well as receiving realistic bid prices. Thailand's Commerce Ministry is planning to hold another rice auction in the second week of September.
Meanwhile, Thailand's Commerce Ministry and the Thai Rice Exporters Association have agreed to supply about 175,000 tons of 5% and 15% white rice to Indonesia under a government-to-government contract. Thailand's Commerce Ministry will also sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philippines government committing to sell one million tons of rice annually to the Philippines from 2014-2016. Thailand sold 5.62 million tons of rice in the first seven months of 2014, up about 55% from about 3.63 million sold during the same period last year. Separately, Thailand's Commerce Ministry has capped September 2014 rice export quota to the European Union (EU) at 768.08 tons. However, Thailand rice export are expected to affect due to labor shortages at port as nearly 200,000 migrant workers at ports have left Thailand fearing military crackdown after the military government took over on May 22, 2014. Due to labor shortages, loading is taking two-three weeks longer than normal time and most of the June shipments have been pushed off to August and some of them have been postponed to September.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) expects Thailand to export more than 9 million tons of rice this year, up about 34% from about 6.7 million tons exported last year. The USDA and the FAO, both expect Thailand to export about 9 million tons of rice in 2014, up about 34% from about 6.72 million tons in last year.
Thailand's rice exports to African nations including Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa, are likely to be affected by the outbreak of Ebola virus. Because most of the shipping companies are hesitant to send their shipping vessels to Africa with the fear of their crews catching the virus. Thailand exported about 3.29 million tons of rice to Africa in the first six months of 2014, up about 140% from about 2.8 million tons exported during the same time in 2013.
The USDA estimates Thailand paddy rice production in MY 2013-14 (January 2014 - December 2014) at about 31 million tons (about 20.46 million tons, basis milled), slightly more than about 30.6 million tons (about 20.2 million tons, basis milled) produced last year. Meanwhile, the FAO estimates Thailand's 2014 aggregate paddy rice production at about 37.5 million tons (about 24.75 million tons, basis milled), down about 2% from about 38.2 million tons (about 25.2 million tons, basis milled) produced in 2013 due to slight contraction in area planted.
Based on the findings of more than 2,000 groups who inspected rice in Thailand’s government warehouses across the country, the Permanent Secretary to Prime Minister's Office said that 78% of rice inspected by the teams is substandard and did not meet specified quality, according to local sources. While earlier in August, inspection team said that nearly 3 million tons or about 17% of rice, from the Thailand government's overall stockpile of 18 million tons is not fit for human consumption.
India
India 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $440 per ton, unchanged from a month ago, up about 6% from a year ago. Average monthly wholesale rice prices in India increased to about Rs.3,233 per quintal (about $539 per ton) in August 2014, slightly up from about Rs.3,217 per quintal (about $536 per ton) in July 2014, and up about 21% from about Rs.2,675 per quintal (about $389 per ton) in August 2013.
The Indian government has decided to import about 100,000 tons of rice from Myanmar to meet public distribution needs in the North-eastern states of Manipur and Mizoram, according to local sources. This is the first time in three decades India is importing rice. According to local sources, the government is planning to import 20,000 tons per month starting October. The USDA estimated India's rice exports to decline to about 10 million tons in MY 2013-14 (October - September), down at about 8% from about 10.869 million tons in MY 2012-13. However it estimates India's exports to further decline by about 20% to 8 million tons in MY 2014-15 due to significant reduction in production and tight supplies.
The agency estimates India's MY 2013-14 milled rice production at about 106.29 million tons, up about 1% from about 105.24 million tons in MY 2012-13. In MY 2014-15, the Post is estimating India's rice production to decline by about 6% to about 99.5 million tons due to a reduction in planting area. While, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast India's MY 2014-15 (October - September) rice production to be close to normal or an estimated 106 million tons in MY 2013-14 as rainfall has resumed in many rice-growing parts of India. Separately, the government of India has estimated India's milled rice production in MY 2013-14 at about 106.54 million tons, up about 2% from an estimated 104.4 million tons in 2012-13. As on September 5, India’s rice acreage is lagging behind slightly at 36 million hectare so far in ongoing Kharif season of this year, as against 36.40 million hectare in the year-ago, according to the Agriculture Ministry data.
The Indian government is targeting to procure 30.05 million tons of rice during the 2014-15 Kharif Marketing Season (October 2014 - September 2015), down about 12% from last year's target of about 34.3 million tons, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. Meanwhile, the Food Corporation of India has procured about 31.38 million tons of rice in the KMS 2013-14 as of September 1, 2014. The Indian government has directed all state governments to cap levy rice procurement from millers at 25% for the 2014-15 procurement season (October - September) to ensure requisite benefits to farmers, according to local sources. So far, Percentage of levy rice procurement differs from state to state and varies between 30 - 75% of procurement in respective states. However, some local analyst expects that India government's decision to cap levy rice procurement by states at 25% will reduce procurement on government account, cut subsidies, infuse additional rice availability in open market and make it cheaper; food inflation will be moderated; quality improvement will take place; exports prices will be lower and non-basmati rice export will be incentivized.
India’s rice stocks in the central pool as of August 1, 2014 were about 24.56 million tons (including a milled equivalent of about 8.127 million tons of paddy), down about 16% from about 29.236 million tons recorded during the same time last year, according to data from the Food Corporation of India.
The Agriculture and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) will include only the basmati growing regions in Western Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir and four states Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in its Geographical Indications (GI) application, according to local sources. Separately, the south-Indian state Kerala has allocated $3.2 million and 2,000 hectares specifically to grow four Geographical Indications (GI) rice varieties grown in the state.
Separately, Russia has rejected a parboiled rice consignment from India after its phyto-sanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has detected in July 2014 that it was contaminated with pests, according to local sources.
Vietnam
Vietnam 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $450 per ton, down about 4% from a month ago and up about 18% from a year ago.
Vietnam exported about 4.243 million tons of rice in January -Aug, 2014, down about 10% from about 4.7 million tons of rice exported during Jan -Aug, 2013, according to data from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). Meanwhile, VFA expects that Vietnam would export over and above the targeted 6.2 million tons of rice in 2014.
Separately, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) of Vietnam is planning to convert 260,000 hectares of rice area to other crops by 2015 under the crop transformation plan 2014-2020. The new plan is to strike a balance between growing rice as well as other crops that have higher competitiveness and economic value than rice, according to the MARD.
Indonesia's state logistics agency BULOG has imported 50,000 tons (about 20,000 tons of 5% broken rice and 30,000 tons of 25% broken rice) of rice from Vietnam to make up an increase in domestic consumption, which led to a decline in supply and increase in prices. Separately, Sri Lanka is planning to import about 15,000 tons of rice from Vietnam.
Vietnam has set up a modern hybrid rice center to increase Vietnam's hybrid rice production as well as reduce its dependence on imports. Vietnam has also set up a National Steering Committee (NSC) for National Rice Research Program until 2020. The NSC will design a rice research program to develop high quality and high-yielding rice varieties in Vietnam.
Pakistan
Pakistan 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $440 per ton, unchanged from a month ago, up about 9% from a year ago.
Pakistan expected to produce about more than 7.1 million tons rice in FY 2013-14 (July- June), The National Space Agency of Pakistan said. Meanwhile, Pakistan has exported 196,733 tons of rice, including basmati and non-basmati, in the first month of FY 2014-15, down about 17% from about 237,932 tons exported during the same period in FY 2013-14, according to provisional data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Pakistan rice exporters are planning to increase their basmati rice sales to Iran after the Middle East nation hiked import duty on Indian basmati rice from 22% to 40%, according to local sources. Separately, Punjab Agricultural Research Board, Rice Research Institute, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology are collaborating with the International Rice Research Institute to improve basmati seed varieties as well as strengthen competitiveness of Pakistan's basmati rice in global market. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council and a private agricultural research company have also signed a Project Cooperation Agreement with China's Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Company Limited to set up a Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center in Pakistan, to increase rice production in the country.
Cambodia
Cambodia 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $470 per ton, up about 3% from a month ago.
Cambodia exported about 233,859 tons of rice from Jan-August, down about 1.2% from about 236,728 tons rice exported in the same period last year, according to data from the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF).
Separately, Brunei has imported about 3,003 tons of jasmine rice from Cambodia, according to the Supply and State Stores Department under the Ministry of Finance. In addition, China has also agreed to buy 100,000 tons of Cambodia's rice under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on August 12 in Beijing, China.
U.S.
U.S. 4% broken rice ended the month of August at about $540 per ton, down about $3 per ton from a month ago and down about 11% from a year ago. Meanwhile, CBOT rough rice future ended the month of August at about $12.665 per cwt (about $279 per ton), down about 2.5% from about $12.985 per cwt recorded a month ago and down about 20% from about $15.805 per cwt recorded a year ago.
The Russian government announced in mid-August that it banned most of the food imports from the U.S., the European Union, Norway, Canada and Australia for next one year in retaliation to Ukraine sanctions, according to local sources. However, local sources quoted the Russian Prime Minister as saying that the food import ban does not include U.S. rice and wild rice.
Separately, the U.S. Customs authorities have found dead larvae of Khapra beetle in a rice shipment from Pakistan. This is not the first time Pakistani rice was found to be infested with Khapra beetle. Last August, the U.S. Customs officials returned a rice shipment from Pakistan after finding traces of Khapra beetle in it. Last July, the Mexican authorities also banned rice shipments from Pakistan due to detection of Khapra beetle in some rice samples.
California's paddy rice acreage has so far declined to about 420,000 hectares in 2014, down about 25% from about 525,000 hectares planted last year, due to continuous drought and shortage of water in the state, according to local sources.
South America:
Five percent broken rice from Uruguay and Argentina ended the month of August at about $615 per ton, down about 1% from a month and a year ago. Argentina exported about 296,950 tons of rice in first five months of CY2014, up about 44% from about 206,448 tons rice exported during the same time last year, according to data from Argentina Ministry of Agriculture.
Brazil 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $610 per ton, down about 8% from a month ago, and down about 2% from a year ago. Brazil exported about 760,724 tons of rice January - July, 2014, down about 41% from about 1.29 million tons rice exported in full calendar year 2013, according to data released by the Rice Institute of Rio Grande do Sul. Meanwhile, Brazil’s National Grains Supply Company, Conab, has estimated Brazil to produce about 12.2 million tons paddy rice in 2013-14, up about 3% from about 11.82 million tons produced in 2012-13, and almost unchanged from its previous forecast.
The FAO estimated Guyana's MY 2014-15 (January - December) rice exports to increase to about 460,000 tons, up about 15% from about 400,000 tons exported in the previous year, due to expected increase in paddy output as well as increased demand from Venezuela, Haiti, Panama and Belize. Guyana exports about 70% of its annual rice production. Meanwhile, the FAO estimates Guyana's 2014 paddy rice production at about 877,000 tons (about 570,000 tons, milled basis), up about 6.5% from about 823,000 tons (about 535,000 tons, basis milled), mainly due to increase in plantings, higher yields, favorable weather conditions and improvements in agricultural infrastructure, such as drainage and irrigation systems. Separately, Guyana has signed a five-year rice export deal with Panama to supply 5,000 tons of rice per month beginning September to Panama.
The USDA expects that Venezuela will import about 530,000 tons rice in MY 2014-15 (April - March), up about 2% from about 520,000 tons import in MY 2013-14, due to expected decline in paddy rice production. The agency estimates, Venezuela’s MY 2014-15 milled rice production to decline to about 378,000 tons, down about 2% from about 385,000 tons last year due to lack of rains and depleting water resources since April this year.
Colombia has imported about 59,380 tons of rice, or 69% of the targeted 86,270 tons from the U.S. under the 2014 Tariff Rate Quota during January 1 - August 15, according to USDA Post. USDA estimates Colombia to produce about 1.3 million tons of rice and import about 350,000 tons of rice in MY 2014-15 (April - March).
Africa
The Mozambican government is targeting to achieve 80% self-sufficiency in rice production by 2020, according to local sources. As of now, Mozambique is a net importer of rice and imports about 70% rice needed yearly to compensate for lags in production as well as to meet the consumption needs. USDA estimates Mozambique to produce about 228,000 tons and import about 520,000 tons of rice in MY 2014-15 to meet a consumption of about 748,000 tons.
The Ghana government has sought technical support from Turkey to help it expand paddy rice production in the country and eventually reduce dependence on imports, according to local sources. Earlier this year, the Ghanaian government also sought assistance of India and the Dutch to increase rice production in the country.
China
China imported about 1.323 million tons of rice in the first six months in 2014, slightly down from about 1.327 million tons imported during the same period last year, according to data from China Customs General Administration.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have officially prohibited cross border rice imports from Vietnam in order to tighten control over tax payments made by Chinese rice importers, according to local sources. About 2 million tons of rice is exported from Vietnam to China unofficially, according to official sources.
Separately, China's Ministry of Agriculture has decided not to renew bio safety certificates to two varieties of GM rice.
Philippines
The Philippines Department of Agriculture has warned that high rice prices would continue until the new harvest begins to enter the market in October due to delay in government's procurement of additional supplies, according to local sources.
The FAO has forecasted the Philippines 2013-14 (July - June) rice imports to more than double to about 1.8 million tons from last year based on the government's efforts to stabilize domestic rice prices and restore public stocks. The agency estimates that the Philippines 2014 paddy rice production at about 19 million tons (about 11.97 million tons, basis milled), up about 1.3% from about 18.75 million tons (about 11.81 million tons, milled basis) in the previous year despite Typhoon Glenda affecting certain parts of the rice growing areas.
Separately, the Philippines Agriculture Secretary said that the government should aim at achieving 96-98% self-sufficiency in rice production in 2014 in addition to importing nearly 1.3 million tons of rice to ensure adequate supplies and curb price hikes. Department of Agriculture, The Philippines, is estimating the Philippines 2014 milled rice production at about 12.38 million tons against a demand of about 12.9 million tons. The country produced about 4.3 million tons in the first quarter of 2014, up about 3% from about 4.17 million tons last year. The Philippines is likely to miss its production target of about 19.07 million tons this year by 2%, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
In beginning of the month, the Philippines issued a tender to buy about 500,000 tons of 25% broken long-grain well-milled white rice, scheduled on August 27, 2014. However, it has rejected bids for this tender due to high prices. The Philippines' National Food Authority said that the agency would hold another tender following today's rejection of bids.
The Philippines has also exported about 400 tons of premium rice so far this year, according to the Department of Agriculture. Total rice stocks in the Philippines as of July 1, 2014 reached about 2.03 million tons, down about 12% from about 2.31 million tons recorded in June 2014, and down about 7.7% from about 2.19 million tons recorded during the same period last year, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics. The Philippines' rice stocks as of July 1, 2014 are enough to last for 59 days.
The Philippines Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has introduced a SMS service to help rice farmers to deal with pests and diseases such as Rice Blast. Farmers can use the PhilRice Text Center (09209111398) to manage Rice Blast and ensure good yield.
Myanmar
The FAO has forecasted Myanmar's MY 2014-15 (July - June) milled rice exports at about 560,000 tons, almost similar to last year's level. The FAO estimates Myanmar's aggregate paddy rice production in 2014 at about 29.5 million tons (about 18.9 million tons, milled basis), up about 2.5% from about 28.77 million tons (about 18 million tons, milled basis) produced in 2013 assuming favorable weather conditions in the next few months of the year.
Separately, Myanmar has exported about 530,000 tons of rice (worth about $196 million) in April 1 - August 15, 2014, according to local sources. Myanmar is also planning to discuss and finalize a rice export agreement with China to avoid legality issues, according to local sources. China has been complaining for a long time that the quantity of illegal rice exports from Myanmar has been increasing and has expressed concerns that Myanmar rice is not adhering to China’s plant quarantine rules.
Europe
According to the USDA, EU is expected to import about 1.5 million tons rice in 2014, down about 9% from last year. The USDA also expects that EU import to decline about 7% to about 1.4 million tons in 2015. Meanwhile, EU's 2014 milled rice exports expected to reach at about 300,000 tons, up about 48% from about 203,000 tons exported in 2013, according to the USDA. It expects EU exports to decline about 33% to about 200,000 tons in 2015.
EU’s milled rice production in MY 2013-14 (September - August) expected to decline to about 1.94 million tons, down about 7% from about 2 million tons produced in MY 2012-13 and in MY 2014-15 to increase by about 1.5% to about 1.97 million tons.
According to data published by the European Commission, EU’s import about 254,436 tons of milled from Cambodia and Myanmar between September 2013 and July 2014. This number is 51% more than the previous year, when imports from LDCs reached only 168,832 tons.
Separately, the Italian government has allocated about €22.6 million (about $30.2 million) annually to rice sector under the new agricultural policy, which would be in line with the new Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) stipulated by the European Union (EU), according to a press release by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Other Markets
Bangladesh imported about 374,560 tons of rice in FY 2013-14 (of which 371,500 tons are imported by the private sector and 3,060 tons are imported by the government), up about 13 times or about 1,195% from about 28,930 tons (25,270 tons by private sector and 3,660 tons by the government) imported in FY 2012-13, according to data from the Bangladesh Food Ministry. Separately, the government of Bangladesh is planning to temporarily waive off its ban on non-fragrant rice exports and export about 50,000 tons of rice to Sri Lanka, according to local sources. Bangladesh has extended the ongoing five-year ban on non-fragrant rice exports to the fiscal year 2014-15 (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015) in order to ensure supplies and control price hikes in the local market.
The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation have collaborated with China's Sichuan Nongda High-tech Agriculture Co Ltd to develop and promote hybrid rice varieties in the country under the Hybrid Rice Cooperation Project, according to local sources. Meanwhile, experts are fearing that global warming and climate change could reduce Bangladesh's paddy yields by about 50% in 2070, according to local sources.
Sri Lankan authorities are planning to import about 100,000 tons of rice in 2014 as they are expecting the country's paddy production to decline about 17% to about 3.32 million tons (about 2.26 million tons, basis milled) from about 4 million tons (about 2.72 million tons, basis milled) produced in 2013, according to the UN's Integrated Regional Information Networks.
Japan government resumed exports of rice grown in Fukushima Prefecture after three years, according to local sources. Local sources say about 300 kilograms of the Koshihikari brand of rice produced in the Fukushima region has been exported to Singapore.
The South Korean government is planning to impose tariffs as high as 500% on rice imports beginning next year when it will liberalize its rice sector, according to local sources. The South Korean government announced its decision to open its rice market from January 2015 as its import quotas under the World Trade Organization agreement end this year. South Korea's milled rice production in 2013 reached about 4.23 million tons, up about 6% from about 4 million tons produced in 2012, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The FAO lowered Laos’s paddy rice production forecast by about 3% y/y to 3.3 million tons (including main and second season crop) in 2014-15, from about 3.145 million tons paddy produced in 2013-14, due to diversion of rice acreage into other crops in this crop season.
The USDA estimates Australia MY 2013-14 paddy production to decline to about 825,000 tons (about 594,000 tons, basis milled), down about 29% from about 1.16 million tons (about 836,000 tons, basis milled) produced in MY 2012-13 due to a decline in the supply of irrigation water. It further expects Australian paddy production to decline to about 700,000 tons (about 504,000 tons, basis milled) in MY 2014-15.
Research and Scientific Development:
Australian rice researchers have developed a jasmine-style fragrant rice variety called 'Topaz'.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/australia-rice-researchers-develop-jasmine-style-fragrant-rice-variety
The India-based iConcept company prepared an app to resolve farmer’s crop issues, by providing an online forum where farmers or field officers can post their queries about any agricultural issues and can get experts.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/got-farm-problem-click-it-send-it-and-resolve-it-online-through-new-app
Some specific bird species can be useful to farmers in rice fields, according to IRRI resident bird experts Richard Smedley and Clare Jones.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/specific-bird-species-can-befriend-rice-farmers-say-irri-scientists
The farms in Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan which produce the Yamada Nishiki type of rice used in making the Dassai brand of sake, go a step ahead to use sensors, tablets, PCs etc for data aggregation and analysis to ensure a consistently good yield.
http://www.oryza.com/news/research-development/sensors-cameras-tabs-team-increase-rice-production-japan
Scientists of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the Korea International Cooperation Agency have jointly developed two new cold tolerant rice varieties - BRRI 18 and Hobigonj BoroVI.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/bangladesh-and-south-korea-jointly-develop-two-cold-tolerant-rice-varieties
Rice Breeding is a numbers game.
http://www.oryza.com/news/research-development/rice-breeding-numbers-game-dr-steve-linscombe
The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) researchers have developed a new rice variety, Brri dhan-64.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/bangladesh-develops-new-high-zinc-and-high-yielding-rice-variety
Agricultural researchers from the International Fertilizer Development Center and IRRI have recommended Alternate Wetting and Drying and Fertilizer Deep Placement /Urea Deep Placement techniques to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rice fields in Bangladesh.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/awd-and-fdp-techniques-can-reduce-ghg-emissions-bangladesh-rice-fields-say
An international team of rice scientists has mapped the genetic code of wild African rice to pave way for a new super rice variety.
http://www.oryza.com/news/world-ready-green-super-rice
Daksh Farm in the south-Indian state of Kerala has launched a mobile app for retail buyers of Palakkadan Matta rice, also known as Red Rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/hungry-order-red-rice-app
August Tenders:
In beginning of August, Iraq issued a tender to buy about 30,000 tons of rice and cancelled it due to high prices in mid-august.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/iraq-issues-international-tender-buy-minimum-30000-tons-rice
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/iraq-rejects-offers-international-tender-minimum-30000-tons-rice
Iraq reissued a tender to buy about 15,000 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/iraq-re-invites-tenders-buy-15000-tons-indian-basmati-rice
South Korea bought about 34,724 tons of rice in a tender.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-purchases-34724-tons-chinese-origin-rice-tender
South Korea issued a tender to buy about 47,378 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-issues-tender-buy-47378-tons-non-glutinous-rice
South Korea bought about 9,434 tons of rice in a tender.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-buys-9434-tons-rice-tender
South Korea bought about 28,288 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-buys-28288-tons-non-glutinous-rice-tender
South Korea bought about 9,090 tons rice in a tender.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-buys-9090-tons-chinese-non-glutinous-rice-tender-passes-tender-10000-tons
South Korea issued a tender to buy about 70,366 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-seeks-purchase-70366-tons-non-glutinous-rice-tenders
Mauritius issued a tender to buy about 6,000 tons rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/mauritius-invites-tenders-buy-6000-tons-long-grain-white-rice
Japan issued a tender to buy about 42,000 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/japan-invites-tenders-buy-42000-tons-non-glutinous-milled-rice
Tags: oryza white rice index (OWRI), rice news, monthly rice report
Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Bids Getting Little to No Interest as Offers Hold
Sep 08, 2014
As of today, most offers were unchanged near $13.00-$13.33 per cwt fob farm (about $287-$294 per ton) while bids held around $12.50-$13.00 per cwt (about $276-$287 per ton) for September-October delivery; however, there were no trades reported.
In the meantime, the USDA estimates that as of Sep 7, 26% of the U.S. rice crop has been harvested which is 3% ahead of last year but 10% less than the previous 5-year average. As of now, the USDA estimates that 16% of the rice crop in Arkansas has been harvested compared to 2% in California, 76% in Louisiana, 16% in Mississippi, 5% in Missouri, and 82% in Texas.
The USDA also considers 74% of the U.S. crop to be in good-to-excellent condition, which was unchanged from last week and 3% better than this time last year, compared to 65% in Arkansas, 85% in California, 85% in Louisiana, 85% in Mississippi, 68% in Missouri, and 60% in Texas.
Tags: U.S. rice prices, U.S. rice market
Oryza Overnight Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Show Surprising Strength Despite Sliding Grain Complex
Sep 08, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for Nov delivery are seen 2 cents per cwt (about $0.44 per ton) higher at $12.510 per cwt (about $276 per ton) during early floor trading in Chicago. The other grains are seen trading lower this morning: soybeans are currently seen 1% lower, wheat is listed about 1.1% lower and corn is noted about 1.9% lower.
U.S. stocks mostly fell on Monday, with oil companies leading the drop as the price of crude dropped more than a buck, as Wall Street paused after a fifth week of gains lifted the S&P 500 to a record, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average not far behind. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 37.63 points, or 0.2%, to 17,099.73. The energy sector fell the most and technology fared best among the 10 major industry groups on the S&P 500, lately down 5.51 points, or 0.3%, at 2,002.22, less than 9 points from its intraday record hit Thursday. The Nasdaq erased opening losses, lately up 9.18 points, or 0.2%, at 4,592.14. On Friday, stocks erased losses to end in positive terrain, with benchmark indexes extending gains into a fifth week, as investors detoured around a surprisingly disappointing jobs report. Gold is currently trading about 1% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 1.4% lower, and the U.S. dollar is currently trading about 0.3% higher at 8:45am Chicago time.
Tags: chicago rough rice futures, U.S. rice prices, U.S. rice market
Pakistan Basmati Rice Export Prices Increase Sharply in August 2014
Sep 08, 2014
Average Pakistan basmati rice export prices in August 2014 have increased sharply to Rs.1,430 per ton, up about 6% from around $1,350 per ton in July 2014, and up about 3% from around Rs.1,394 per ton in August 2013, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Average Pakistan basmati rice export prices increased for the first time after being stable at Rs.1,350 per ton level for four months from April - July 2014.According to the FAO, Pakistani rice prices averaged around $1,367 per ton during January - August 2014, down about 1% from around $1,380 per ton during the same period in 2013.
However, in terms of local currency, Pakistan's basmati rice prices increased to around PKR 144,430 per ton (using historical exchange rates) in August 2014, up about 9% from around PKR 132,165 per ton in July 2014, and down about 1% from about PKR 146,231 per ton in August 2013.
Tags: Pakistan basmati rice prices, Pakistan basmati rice exports
Indian States Reject Additional Rice Allocations under TDPS due to Inadequate Storage Facilities
Sep 08, 2014
Most of the Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana and Odisha, have been refusing additional rice allocations by the Central government under the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) due to lack of adequate storage facilities, according to local sources.In June 2014, the Indian government decided to release an additional 5 million tons of rice from central reserves into the open markets to prevent rice price hikes and inflation. The Food Ministry directed all the state governments to distribute the additional allocations to the above poverty line (APL) and below poverty line (BPL) families.
However, as most of the states do not have sufficient storage capacities, they have not picked up any rice from the FCI. According to local sources, only 230,000 tons of rice has been collected by some states, including Assam (56,000 tonne), Andhra Pradesh (41,375 tonne), West Bengal (39,372 tonne), Tamil Nadu (33,860 tonne) and Kerala (34,665 tonne), as they have efficient storage facilities as well as PDS systems.
“States usually take possession of grain from the FCI on a monthly basis for the TPDS, as they lack long-term storage facilities. So they find it difficult to lift the extra grain,” a food ministry official was quoted as saying.
India’s rice stocks in the central pool as of August 1, 2014 were about 24.56 million tons (including a milled equivalent of about 8.127 million tons of paddy), down about 16% from about 29.236 million tons recorded during the same time last year, according to data from the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Tags: India rice procurement, India inflation, India rice prices, Food Corporation of India (FCI)
Vietnam Rice Quotes Mixed Today; Pakistan Rice Sellers Increase Some of Their Quotes
Sep 08, 2014
Vietnam rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% and 25% broken rice by about $5 per ton each and lowered their quotes for 100% broken rice and Jasmine rice by about $5 per ton each today. Pakistan rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice and 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton each. Other Asia sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is quoted at around $425 - $435 per ton, about $25 per ton discount to Vietnam 5% rice quoted at around $450 - $460 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday. India 5% rice is quoted at around $440 - $450 per ton, and about $20 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice quoted at around $420 - $430 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice was last quoted at around $350 - $360 per ton, about $55 per ton discount to Vietnam 25% rice quoted at around $405 - $415 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday. India 25% rice is quoted at around $390 - $400 per ton, about $20 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice quoted at around $370 - $380 per ton.
Parboiled Rice
Thailand parboiled rice is quoted at around $430 - $440 per ton. India parboiled rice is quoted at around $430 - $440 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last quoted at around $440 - $450 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super, was last quoted at around $310 - $320 per ton, about $30 per ton discount to Vietnam broken rice quoted at around $340 - $350 per ton, down about $5 per ton from Friday. India broken sortexed rice is quoted at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan broken sortexed rice quoted at around $335 - $345 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday.
Tags: Vietnam rice prices, India rice prices, pakistan rice prices, Thailand rice prices
South Korea Increases Direct Subsidies to Rice Farmers
Sep 08, 2014
The South Korean government has decided to increase its fixed direct subsidies to rice farmers to around 1 million won (around $954) per hectare, up about 10% from existing 900,000 won (around $859) per hectare as part of its measures to open its rice import market, according to local sources.The government has also decided to increase direct subsidies for winter paddy crop to around 500,000 won (around $477) per hectare from the current 400,000 won (around $382) per hectare.
Following a party-government consultative meeting at the National Assembly on Friday, the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister told local reporters that the decision has been taken to ease farmers' concerns regarding the liberalization of the country's rice market. He also added that the government is considering to impose the highest tariff rate allowed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in order to protect the local rice sector and farmers.
The Minister noted that the government has also decided to lower interest rate on 11 different policy loans for rice farmers by about 0.5% to around 2%. He also stated thet the government has earmarked a total of 15.1 billion won (around $14.4) in the next year's budget to cover the expenses related to direct subsidies.The government decided to open its rice import market starting January 2015 as it is keen on protecting its own production in the light of declining rice consumption by cutting down on imports. Farmers and civic groups opposed the move saying it would hurt their livelihoods and the local rice sector.
Tags: South Korea rice production, South Korea Import Liberalization
Oryza Global Rice Quotes
September 8th, 2014
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade 440-450 ↔
Vietnam 5% broken 450-460 ↑
India 5% broken 440-450 ↔
Pakistan 5% broken 420-430 ↑
Cambodia 5% broken 465-475 ↔
U.S. 4% broken 535-545 ↔
Uruguay 5% broken 610-620 ↔
Argentina 5% broken 610-620 ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken NQ ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 405-415 ↑
Pakistan 25% broken 370-380 ↔
Cambodia 25% broken 450-460 ↔
India 25% broken 390-400 ↔
U.S. 15% broken 525-535 ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd 430-440 ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd 440-450 ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd 430-440 ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken 630-640 ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken 595-605 ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken NQ ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92% 1050-1060 ↔
Vietnam Jasmine 580-590 ↓
India basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Cambodia Phka Malis 880-890 ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super NQ ↔
Vietnam 100% broken 340-350 ↓
Pakistan 100% broken stxd 335-345 ↑
Cambodia A1 Super 360-370 ↔
India 100% Broken stxd 345-355 ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ ↔
U.S. pet food 470-480 ↔
Brazil half grain NQ ↔
Medium grain milled
U.S. Calrose 4% broken 1025-1035 ↔
Egypt medium grain 6% NQ ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com
Sep 08, 2014
The Bangladesh government has extended its Boro rice procurement deadline for FY 2014-15 (July - June) by one month to September 30, 2014 as it could not achieve the original target of procuring one million tons of Boro milled rice and 150,000 tons of Boro paddy by August 31, 2014. Procurement of Boro rice and paddy started on May 1, 2014.As of August 31, the government authorities could procure only 835,525 tons of Boro milled rice (around 774,622 tons of boiled rice and around 60,903 tons of non-boiled rice) and 9,823 tons of paddy. The government intended to buy milled rice from millers and paddy from farmers directly. Local sources say around 15,062 millers supplied rice to the government.Local sources have quoted the officials of the Directorate General of Food as saying that they are not sure of achieving the set target despite extending the deadline. They say price differences between local market prices and the government fixed price are prompting rice millers to sell rice in the open market rather than supplying it to the government. They also noted that heavy monsoon rains also contributed partly to the slow procurement.
Based on the expected production costs of Tk 17.50 per kilogram (around $221 per ton) for paddy and Tk 26.50 per kilogram (around $334 per ton) for milled rice, the government has fixed Tk 31 per kilogram (around $391 per ton) for milled rice and Tk 20 per kilogram (around $252 per ton) for paddy. However, market prices of all varieties of milled rice currently stand between Tk 33 - 36 per kilogram (around $418 - $456) per ton. Local sources say domestic paddy prices have also gone up significantly since last one month.
Last year, the government Boro rice procurement stood at around 831,166 tons, down about 8% from the targeted 900,000 tons mainly due to low prices offered by the government.USDA estimates Bangladesh to produce around 34.8 million tons of rice in MY 2014-15 (May - April), up about 1% from an estimated 34.59 million tons in MY 2013-14.
Tags: Bangladesh rice procurement, Bangladesh Boro rice procurement, Bangladesh rice production
Basmati Rice Growers in Indian State Punjab Face Double Whammy with Poor Procurement and Milling Facilities
Sep 08, 2014
Increased basmati rice acreage and expected increase in output are not making Punjab farmers very happy, say local sources. Basmati rice farmers in Punjab are concerned about poor procurement and milling facilities in the state.According to official sources, basmati rice acreage in the state in this kharif season (June - December) has crossed over 650,000 hectares, about 25% of the total 2.8 million hectares under paddy cultivation. Experts are expecting an output of 4 million tons, about 30% of the state's total paddy output of around 12 million tons.
Farmers told local sources that they have requested the state government to make requisite arrangements for proper procurement of basmati, without which they may have to face severe trouble. They also noted that milling of basmati requires sophisticated equipment and the state presently lacks milling infrastructure to accommodate such high output. Some farmers' representatives have recommended that Haryana traders could be allowed to buy basmati paddy from Punjab farmers by exempting 25 rural development fund (RDF) and 2% market fee. They are also expecting a price of around Rs.4,000 per quintal (around $664 per ton) for their output.
Local sources say nearly 25,000 - 30,000 commission agents have been involved for procuring basmati rice from farmers and selling it to exporters.Officials at the Indian Agriculture Ministry have estimated basmati rice acreage in the 2014 kharif rice season (June - December) at around 3.5 million hectares, up about 40% from around 2.5 million hectares planted last year, according to local sources.
India exported around 3.76 million tons of basmati rice in FY 2013-14 (April - March), up about 9% from around 3.46 million tons exported in FY 2012-13, according to data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). India exported a total of 10.78 million tons of rice (including basmati and non-basmati) in FY 2013-14, up about 6% from about 10.15 million tons exported last year.
Tags: India basmati rice production, Basmati rice procurement, Basmati rice milling
Hong Kong Academic's Views on Rice Bucket Challenge
Sep 08, 2014
Dr Rajesh Sharma, assistant professor in the School of Law at City University of Hong Kong, writes in South China Morning Post print edition: "Although this [rice bucket challenge] challenge has not received the same media fanfare as the Ice Bucket Challenge, it has been quietly achieving its purpose of ensuring a poor person does not go to bed hungry. The biggest support has come from university students who donated 2,200kg of rice in a single day.
"According to the report in scmp.com, the rice bucket challenge is a good example of how people can help each other in small ways and, most importantly, how resources can be redistributed for public benefit, something which governments are unable to do in free-market economies.He says in the report that the rice bucket challenge is need-based and reaches those who require help immediately. In developing countries like India and China, such need-based initiatives may prove a more useful tool.
Full report on: http://www.scmp.com/comment/article/1587914/hungry-indias-challenge-rice...
Tags: Dr rajesh, hong kong, rice bucket challenge, ice bucket challenge, ALS, india. hungry, manju kalanidhi, rice news
Oryza Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Begin the Week with Loss as Grains Continue to Slide
Sep 08, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for Nov delivery settled 4.5 cents per cwt (about $1 per ton) lower at $12.445 per cwt (about $274 per ton). Rough rice futures began the week on a negative note, continuing lower as a bearish grain complex once again weighed on the market. The other grains closed sharply lower with only wheat managing to limit losses to less than a 1% decline on the day; soybeans closed about 1.3% lower at $10.0850 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.3% lower at $5.3350 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 2.2% lower at $3.4825 per bushel.
U.S. stocks declined on Monday, as concerns about economic growth around the world and geopolitical uncertainty had investors retreating after a fifth week of gains lifted the S&P 500 to a record, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average not far behind. President Barack Obama is scheduled to address the nation a day after meeting with congressional leaders on Tuesday to lay out his plan to combat Sunni extremists of Islamic State. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 55.97 points, or 0.3%, to 17,081.39. The energy sector fell the most among the 10 major industry groups on the S&P 500, lately down 11.93 points, or 0.6%, at 1,995.78. The Nasdaq fell 11.60 points, or 0.3%, to 4,571.30. Gold is trading about 0.9% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 0.9% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.6% higher at about 1:00pm Chicago time.
Friday, there were 456 contracts traded, up from 452 contracts traded on Thursday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Friday increased by 131 contracts to 9,074.
Tags: U.S. rice prices, U.S. rice market, chicago rough rice futures
Oryza August 2014 Rice Market Review
Sep 08, 2014
The Oryza White Rice Index (WRI), a weighted average of global white rice export quotes, ended the month of August at about $475 per ton, down about $8 per ton from a month ago and down about $21 per ton from a year ago. The Asia rice prices were mostly firm in August, reflecting a shortening of supplies ahead of major harvests due in the last quarter of 2014. Rice prices were more subdued in the Americas, although American rice remains substantially dearer than Asian rice.The FAO All Rice Price Index averaged 242 points in August 2014, which compares with 238 points in July, marking the third month of continuous rises.The IGC estimated 2014 global rice trade at about 40 million tons, up about 5% from about 38 million tons in 2013 due to increased imports by Far East Asian countries such as China, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as the African nations. While, the IGC estimates 2013-14 global rice production at about 476 million tons, up about 1% from about 472 million tons in 2012-13 due to improved output in South Asia, South America and sub-Saharan African countries. The IGC expects 2013-14 world rice ending stocks to decline to about 109 million tons from about 110 million tons in the previous year.
Thailand
Thailand 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $440 per ton, up about 1% from a month ago and up about 5% from a year ago. Thailand rice prices are expected to increase in December as Under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s order, the prices of five-kilogram bags of rice will remain between 80-130 baht per pack (about $500-800 per ton) only until November end and likely to rise by 5-10 baht per pack (about $32-62 per ton). The price stability is a result of the NCPO’s bid to keep the cost of living low for its citizens.
In beginning of the August, Thailand holds an auction of about 167,000 tons of rice which was not so successful. Although this auction attracted huge number of bidders, Thailand's Commerce Ministry was able to sell only about 73,000 tons of rice to 12 bidders due to lower bidding prices. Meanwhile, Thailand Commerce Ministry is planning to sell about 500,000 - 600,000 tons of rice each month and complete all sales within the next three years. Thailand government is also planning to amend rice auction conditions, including setting up flexible floor prices to ensure smooth sales as well as receiving realistic bid prices. Thailand's Commerce Ministry is planning to hold another rice auction in the second week of September.
Meanwhile, Thailand's Commerce Ministry and the Thai Rice Exporters Association have agreed to supply about 175,000 tons of 5% and 15% white rice to Indonesia under a government-to-government contract. Thailand's Commerce Ministry will also sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philippines government committing to sell one million tons of rice annually to the Philippines from 2014-2016. Thailand sold 5.62 million tons of rice in the first seven months of 2014, up about 55% from about 3.63 million sold during the same period last year. Separately, Thailand's Commerce Ministry has capped September 2014 rice export quota to the European Union (EU) at 768.08 tons. However, Thailand rice export are expected to affect due to labor shortages at port as nearly 200,000 migrant workers at ports have left Thailand fearing military crackdown after the military government took over on May 22, 2014. Due to labor shortages, loading is taking two-three weeks longer than normal time and most of the June shipments have been pushed off to August and some of them have been postponed to September.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) expects Thailand to export more than 9 million tons of rice this year, up about 34% from about 6.7 million tons exported last year. The USDA and the FAO, both expect Thailand to export about 9 million tons of rice in 2014, up about 34% from about 6.72 million tons in last year.
Thailand's rice exports to African nations including Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa, are likely to be affected by the outbreak of Ebola virus. Because most of the shipping companies are hesitant to send their shipping vessels to Africa with the fear of their crews catching the virus. Thailand exported about 3.29 million tons of rice to Africa in the first six months of 2014, up about 140% from about 2.8 million tons exported during the same time in 2013.
The USDA estimates Thailand paddy rice production in MY 2013-14 (January 2014 - December 2014) at about 31 million tons (about 20.46 million tons, basis milled), slightly more than about 30.6 million tons (about 20.2 million tons, basis milled) produced last year. Meanwhile, the FAO estimates Thailand's 2014 aggregate paddy rice production at about 37.5 million tons (about 24.75 million tons, basis milled), down about 2% from about 38.2 million tons (about 25.2 million tons, basis milled) produced in 2013 due to slight contraction in area planted.
Based on the findings of more than 2,000 groups who inspected rice in Thailand’s government warehouses across the country, the Permanent Secretary to Prime Minister's Office said that 78% of rice inspected by the teams is substandard and did not meet specified quality, according to local sources. While earlier in August, inspection team said that nearly 3 million tons or about 17% of rice, from the Thailand government's overall stockpile of 18 million tons is not fit for human consumption.
India
India 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $440 per ton, unchanged from a month ago, up about 6% from a year ago. Average monthly wholesale rice prices in India increased to about Rs.3,233 per quintal (about $539 per ton) in August 2014, slightly up from about Rs.3,217 per quintal (about $536 per ton) in July 2014, and up about 21% from about Rs.2,675 per quintal (about $389 per ton) in August 2013.
The Indian government has decided to import about 100,000 tons of rice from Myanmar to meet public distribution needs in the North-eastern states of Manipur and Mizoram, according to local sources. This is the first time in three decades India is importing rice. According to local sources, the government is planning to import 20,000 tons per month starting October. The USDA estimated India's rice exports to decline to about 10 million tons in MY 2013-14 (October - September), down at about 8% from about 10.869 million tons in MY 2012-13. However it estimates India's exports to further decline by about 20% to 8 million tons in MY 2014-15 due to significant reduction in production and tight supplies.
The agency estimates India's MY 2013-14 milled rice production at about 106.29 million tons, up about 1% from about 105.24 million tons in MY 2012-13. In MY 2014-15, the Post is estimating India's rice production to decline by about 6% to about 99.5 million tons due to a reduction in planting area. While, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast India's MY 2014-15 (October - September) rice production to be close to normal or an estimated 106 million tons in MY 2013-14 as rainfall has resumed in many rice-growing parts of India. Separately, the government of India has estimated India's milled rice production in MY 2013-14 at about 106.54 million tons, up about 2% from an estimated 104.4 million tons in 2012-13. As on September 5, India’s rice acreage is lagging behind slightly at 36 million hectare so far in ongoing Kharif season of this year, as against 36.40 million hectare in the year-ago, according to the Agriculture Ministry data.
The Indian government is targeting to procure 30.05 million tons of rice during the 2014-15 Kharif Marketing Season (October 2014 - September 2015), down about 12% from last year's target of about 34.3 million tons, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. Meanwhile, the Food Corporation of India has procured about 31.38 million tons of rice in the KMS 2013-14 as of September 1, 2014. The Indian government has directed all state governments to cap levy rice procurement from millers at 25% for the 2014-15 procurement season (October - September) to ensure requisite benefits to farmers, according to local sources. So far, Percentage of levy rice procurement differs from state to state and varies between 30 - 75% of procurement in respective states. However, some local analyst expects that India government's decision to cap levy rice procurement by states at 25% will reduce procurement on government account, cut subsidies, infuse additional rice availability in open market and make it cheaper; food inflation will be moderated; quality improvement will take place; exports prices will be lower and non-basmati rice export will be incentivized.
India’s rice stocks in the central pool as of August 1, 2014 were about 24.56 million tons (including a milled equivalent of about 8.127 million tons of paddy), down about 16% from about 29.236 million tons recorded during the same time last year, according to data from the Food Corporation of India.
The Agriculture and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) will include only the basmati growing regions in Western Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir and four states Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in its Geographical Indications (GI) application, according to local sources. Separately, the south-Indian state Kerala has allocated $3.2 million and 2,000 hectares specifically to grow four Geographical Indications (GI) rice varieties grown in the state.
Separately, Russia has rejected a parboiled rice consignment from India after its phyto-sanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has detected in July 2014 that it was contaminated with pests, according to local sources.
Vietnam
Vietnam 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $450 per ton, down about 4% from a month ago and up about 18% from a year ago.
Vietnam exported about 4.243 million tons of rice in January -Aug, 2014, down about 10% from about 4.7 million tons of rice exported during Jan -Aug, 2013, according to data from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). Meanwhile, VFA expects that Vietnam would export over and above the targeted 6.2 million tons of rice in 2014.
Separately, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) of Vietnam is planning to convert 260,000 hectares of rice area to other crops by 2015 under the crop transformation plan 2014-2020. The new plan is to strike a balance between growing rice as well as other crops that have higher competitiveness and economic value than rice, according to the MARD.
Indonesia's state logistics agency BULOG has imported 50,000 tons (about 20,000 tons of 5% broken rice and 30,000 tons of 25% broken rice) of rice from Vietnam to make up an increase in domestic consumption, which led to a decline in supply and increase in prices. Separately, Sri Lanka is planning to import about 15,000 tons of rice from Vietnam.
Vietnam has set up a modern hybrid rice center to increase Vietnam's hybrid rice production as well as reduce its dependence on imports. Vietnam has also set up a National Steering Committee (NSC) for National Rice Research Program until 2020. The NSC will design a rice research program to develop high quality and high-yielding rice varieties in Vietnam.
Pakistan
Pakistan 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $440 per ton, unchanged from a month ago, up about 9% from a year ago.
Pakistan expected to produce about more than 7.1 million tons rice in FY 2013-14 (July- June), The National Space Agency of Pakistan said. Meanwhile, Pakistan has exported 196,733 tons of rice, including basmati and non-basmati, in the first month of FY 2014-15, down about 17% from about 237,932 tons exported during the same period in FY 2013-14, according to provisional data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Pakistan rice exporters are planning to increase their basmati rice sales to Iran after the Middle East nation hiked import duty on Indian basmati rice from 22% to 40%, according to local sources. Separately, Punjab Agricultural Research Board, Rice Research Institute, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology are collaborating with the International Rice Research Institute to improve basmati seed varieties as well as strengthen competitiveness of Pakistan's basmati rice in global market. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council and a private agricultural research company have also signed a Project Cooperation Agreement with China's Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Company Limited to set up a Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center in Pakistan, to increase rice production in the country.
Cambodia
Cambodia 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $470 per ton, up about 3% from a month ago.
Cambodia exported about 233,859 tons of rice from Jan-August, down about 1.2% from about 236,728 tons rice exported in the same period last year, according to data from the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF).
Separately, Brunei has imported about 3,003 tons of jasmine rice from Cambodia, according to the Supply and State Stores Department under the Ministry of Finance. In addition, China has also agreed to buy 100,000 tons of Cambodia's rice under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on August 12 in Beijing, China.
U.S.
U.S. 4% broken rice ended the month of August at about $540 per ton, down about $3 per ton from a month ago and down about 11% from a year ago. Meanwhile, CBOT rough rice future ended the month of August at about $12.665 per cwt (about $279 per ton), down about 2.5% from about $12.985 per cwt recorded a month ago and down about 20% from about $15.805 per cwt recorded a year ago.
The Russian government announced in mid-August that it banned most of the food imports from the U.S., the European Union, Norway, Canada and Australia for next one year in retaliation to Ukraine sanctions, according to local sources. However, local sources quoted the Russian Prime Minister as saying that the food import ban does not include U.S. rice and wild rice.
Separately, the U.S. Customs authorities have found dead larvae of Khapra beetle in a rice shipment from Pakistan. This is not the first time Pakistani rice was found to be infested with Khapra beetle. Last August, the U.S. Customs officials returned a rice shipment from Pakistan after finding traces of Khapra beetle in it. Last July, the Mexican authorities also banned rice shipments from Pakistan due to detection of Khapra beetle in some rice samples.
California's paddy rice acreage has so far declined to about 420,000 hectares in 2014, down about 25% from about 525,000 hectares planted last year, due to continuous drought and shortage of water in the state, according to local sources.
South America:
Five percent broken rice from Uruguay and Argentina ended the month of August at about $615 per ton, down about 1% from a month and a year ago. Argentina exported about 296,950 tons of rice in first five months of CY2014, up about 44% from about 206,448 tons rice exported during the same time last year, according to data from Argentina Ministry of Agriculture.
Brazil 5% broken rice ended the month of August at about $610 per ton, down about 8% from a month ago, and down about 2% from a year ago. Brazil exported about 760,724 tons of rice January - July, 2014, down about 41% from about 1.29 million tons rice exported in full calendar year 2013, according to data released by the Rice Institute of Rio Grande do Sul. Meanwhile, Brazil’s National Grains Supply Company, Conab, has estimated Brazil to produce about 12.2 million tons paddy rice in 2013-14, up about 3% from about 11.82 million tons produced in 2012-13, and almost unchanged from its previous forecast.
The FAO estimated Guyana's MY 2014-15 (January - December) rice exports to increase to about 460,000 tons, up about 15% from about 400,000 tons exported in the previous year, due to expected increase in paddy output as well as increased demand from Venezuela, Haiti, Panama and Belize. Guyana exports about 70% of its annual rice production. Meanwhile, the FAO estimates Guyana's 2014 paddy rice production at about 877,000 tons (about 570,000 tons, milled basis), up about 6.5% from about 823,000 tons (about 535,000 tons, basis milled), mainly due to increase in plantings, higher yields, favorable weather conditions and improvements in agricultural infrastructure, such as drainage and irrigation systems. Separately, Guyana has signed a five-year rice export deal with Panama to supply 5,000 tons of rice per month beginning September to Panama.
The USDA expects that Venezuela will import about 530,000 tons rice in MY 2014-15 (April - March), up about 2% from about 520,000 tons import in MY 2013-14, due to expected decline in paddy rice production. The agency estimates, Venezuela’s MY 2014-15 milled rice production to decline to about 378,000 tons, down about 2% from about 385,000 tons last year due to lack of rains and depleting water resources since April this year.
Colombia has imported about 59,380 tons of rice, or 69% of the targeted 86,270 tons from the U.S. under the 2014 Tariff Rate Quota during January 1 - August 15, according to USDA Post. USDA estimates Colombia to produce about 1.3 million tons of rice and import about 350,000 tons of rice in MY 2014-15 (April - March).
Africa
The Mozambican government is targeting to achieve 80% self-sufficiency in rice production by 2020, according to local sources. As of now, Mozambique is a net importer of rice and imports about 70% rice needed yearly to compensate for lags in production as well as to meet the consumption needs. USDA estimates Mozambique to produce about 228,000 tons and import about 520,000 tons of rice in MY 2014-15 to meet a consumption of about 748,000 tons.
The Ghana government has sought technical support from Turkey to help it expand paddy rice production in the country and eventually reduce dependence on imports, according to local sources. Earlier this year, the Ghanaian government also sought assistance of India and the Dutch to increase rice production in the country.
China
China imported about 1.323 million tons of rice in the first six months in 2014, slightly down from about 1.327 million tons imported during the same period last year, according to data from China Customs General Administration.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have officially prohibited cross border rice imports from Vietnam in order to tighten control over tax payments made by Chinese rice importers, according to local sources. About 2 million tons of rice is exported from Vietnam to China unofficially, according to official sources.
Separately, China's Ministry of Agriculture has decided not to renew bio safety certificates to two varieties of GM rice.
Philippines
The Philippines Department of Agriculture has warned that high rice prices would continue until the new harvest begins to enter the market in October due to delay in government's procurement of additional supplies, according to local sources.
The FAO has forecasted the Philippines 2013-14 (July - June) rice imports to more than double to about 1.8 million tons from last year based on the government's efforts to stabilize domestic rice prices and restore public stocks. The agency estimates that the Philippines 2014 paddy rice production at about 19 million tons (about 11.97 million tons, basis milled), up about 1.3% from about 18.75 million tons (about 11.81 million tons, milled basis) in the previous year despite Typhoon Glenda affecting certain parts of the rice growing areas.
Separately, the Philippines Agriculture Secretary said that the government should aim at achieving 96-98% self-sufficiency in rice production in 2014 in addition to importing nearly 1.3 million tons of rice to ensure adequate supplies and curb price hikes. Department of Agriculture, The Philippines, is estimating the Philippines 2014 milled rice production at about 12.38 million tons against a demand of about 12.9 million tons. The country produced about 4.3 million tons in the first quarter of 2014, up about 3% from about 4.17 million tons last year. The Philippines is likely to miss its production target of about 19.07 million tons this year by 2%, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
In beginning of the month, the Philippines issued a tender to buy about 500,000 tons of 25% broken long-grain well-milled white rice, scheduled on August 27, 2014. However, it has rejected bids for this tender due to high prices. The Philippines' National Food Authority said that the agency would hold another tender following today's rejection of bids.
The Philippines has also exported about 400 tons of premium rice so far this year, according to the Department of Agriculture. Total rice stocks in the Philippines as of July 1, 2014 reached about 2.03 million tons, down about 12% from about 2.31 million tons recorded in June 2014, and down about 7.7% from about 2.19 million tons recorded during the same period last year, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics. The Philippines' rice stocks as of July 1, 2014 are enough to last for 59 days.
The Philippines Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has introduced a SMS service to help rice farmers to deal with pests and diseases such as Rice Blast. Farmers can use the PhilRice Text Center (09209111398) to manage Rice Blast and ensure good yield.
Myanmar
The FAO has forecasted Myanmar's MY 2014-15 (July - June) milled rice exports at about 560,000 tons, almost similar to last year's level. The FAO estimates Myanmar's aggregate paddy rice production in 2014 at about 29.5 million tons (about 18.9 million tons, milled basis), up about 2.5% from about 28.77 million tons (about 18 million tons, milled basis) produced in 2013 assuming favorable weather conditions in the next few months of the year.
Separately, Myanmar has exported about 530,000 tons of rice (worth about $196 million) in April 1 - August 15, 2014, according to local sources. Myanmar is also planning to discuss and finalize a rice export agreement with China to avoid legality issues, according to local sources. China has been complaining for a long time that the quantity of illegal rice exports from Myanmar has been increasing and has expressed concerns that Myanmar rice is not adhering to China’s plant quarantine rules.
Europe
According to the USDA, EU is expected to import about 1.5 million tons rice in 2014, down about 9% from last year. The USDA also expects that EU import to decline about 7% to about 1.4 million tons in 2015. Meanwhile, EU's 2014 milled rice exports expected to reach at about 300,000 tons, up about 48% from about 203,000 tons exported in 2013, according to the USDA. It expects EU exports to decline about 33% to about 200,000 tons in 2015.
EU’s milled rice production in MY 2013-14 (September - August) expected to decline to about 1.94 million tons, down about 7% from about 2 million tons produced in MY 2012-13 and in MY 2014-15 to increase by about 1.5% to about 1.97 million tons.
According to data published by the European Commission, EU’s import about 254,436 tons of milled from Cambodia and Myanmar between September 2013 and July 2014. This number is 51% more than the previous year, when imports from LDCs reached only 168,832 tons.
Separately, the Italian government has allocated about €22.6 million (about $30.2 million) annually to rice sector under the new agricultural policy, which would be in line with the new Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) stipulated by the European Union (EU), according to a press release by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Other Markets
Bangladesh imported about 374,560 tons of rice in FY 2013-14 (of which 371,500 tons are imported by the private sector and 3,060 tons are imported by the government), up about 13 times or about 1,195% from about 28,930 tons (25,270 tons by private sector and 3,660 tons by the government) imported in FY 2012-13, according to data from the Bangladesh Food Ministry. Separately, the government of Bangladesh is planning to temporarily waive off its ban on non-fragrant rice exports and export about 50,000 tons of rice to Sri Lanka, according to local sources. Bangladesh has extended the ongoing five-year ban on non-fragrant rice exports to the fiscal year 2014-15 (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015) in order to ensure supplies and control price hikes in the local market.
The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation have collaborated with China's Sichuan Nongda High-tech Agriculture Co Ltd to develop and promote hybrid rice varieties in the country under the Hybrid Rice Cooperation Project, according to local sources. Meanwhile, experts are fearing that global warming and climate change could reduce Bangladesh's paddy yields by about 50% in 2070, according to local sources.
Sri Lankan authorities are planning to import about 100,000 tons of rice in 2014 as they are expecting the country's paddy production to decline about 17% to about 3.32 million tons (about 2.26 million tons, basis milled) from about 4 million tons (about 2.72 million tons, basis milled) produced in 2013, according to the UN's Integrated Regional Information Networks.
Japan government resumed exports of rice grown in Fukushima Prefecture after three years, according to local sources. Local sources say about 300 kilograms of the Koshihikari brand of rice produced in the Fukushima region has been exported to Singapore.
The South Korean government is planning to impose tariffs as high as 500% on rice imports beginning next year when it will liberalize its rice sector, according to local sources. The South Korean government announced its decision to open its rice market from January 2015 as its import quotas under the World Trade Organization agreement end this year. South Korea's milled rice production in 2013 reached about 4.23 million tons, up about 6% from about 4 million tons produced in 2012, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The FAO lowered Laos’s paddy rice production forecast by about 3% y/y to 3.3 million tons (including main and second season crop) in 2014-15, from about 3.145 million tons paddy produced in 2013-14, due to diversion of rice acreage into other crops in this crop season.
The USDA estimates Australia MY 2013-14 paddy production to decline to about 825,000 tons (about 594,000 tons, basis milled), down about 29% from about 1.16 million tons (about 836,000 tons, basis milled) produced in MY 2012-13 due to a decline in the supply of irrigation water. It further expects Australian paddy production to decline to about 700,000 tons (about 504,000 tons, basis milled) in MY 2014-15.
Research and Scientific Development:
Australian rice researchers have developed a jasmine-style fragrant rice variety called 'Topaz'.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/australia-rice-researchers-develop-jasmine-style-fragrant-rice-variety
The India-based iConcept company prepared an app to resolve farmer’s crop issues, by providing an online forum where farmers or field officers can post their queries about any agricultural issues and can get experts.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/got-farm-problem-click-it-send-it-and-resolve-it-online-through-new-app
Some specific bird species can be useful to farmers in rice fields, according to IRRI resident bird experts Richard Smedley and Clare Jones.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/specific-bird-species-can-befriend-rice-farmers-say-irri-scientists
The farms in Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan which produce the Yamada Nishiki type of rice used in making the Dassai brand of sake, go a step ahead to use sensors, tablets, PCs etc for data aggregation and analysis to ensure a consistently good yield.
http://www.oryza.com/news/research-development/sensors-cameras-tabs-team-increase-rice-production-japan
Scientists of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the Korea International Cooperation Agency have jointly developed two new cold tolerant rice varieties - BRRI 18 and Hobigonj BoroVI.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/bangladesh-and-south-korea-jointly-develop-two-cold-tolerant-rice-varieties
Rice Breeding is a numbers game.
http://www.oryza.com/news/research-development/rice-breeding-numbers-game-dr-steve-linscombe
The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) researchers have developed a new rice variety, Brri dhan-64.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/bangladesh-develops-new-high-zinc-and-high-yielding-rice-variety
Agricultural researchers from the International Fertilizer Development Center and IRRI have recommended Alternate Wetting and Drying and Fertilizer Deep Placement /Urea Deep Placement techniques to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rice fields in Bangladesh.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/awd-and-fdp-techniques-can-reduce-ghg-emissions-bangladesh-rice-fields-say
An international team of rice scientists has mapped the genetic code of wild African rice to pave way for a new super rice variety.
http://www.oryza.com/news/world-ready-green-super-rice
Daksh Farm in the south-Indian state of Kerala has launched a mobile app for retail buyers of Palakkadan Matta rice, also known as Red Rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/hungry-order-red-rice-app
August Tenders:
In beginning of August, Iraq issued a tender to buy about 30,000 tons of rice and cancelled it due to high prices in mid-august.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/iraq-issues-international-tender-buy-minimum-30000-tons-rice
http://www.oryza.com/news/rice-news/iraq-rejects-offers-international-tender-minimum-30000-tons-rice
Iraq reissued a tender to buy about 15,000 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/iraq-re-invites-tenders-buy-15000-tons-indian-basmati-rice
South Korea bought about 34,724 tons of rice in a tender.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-purchases-34724-tons-chinese-origin-rice-tender
South Korea issued a tender to buy about 47,378 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-issues-tender-buy-47378-tons-non-glutinous-rice
South Korea bought about 9,434 tons of rice in a tender.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-buys-9434-tons-rice-tender
South Korea bought about 28,288 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-buys-28288-tons-non-glutinous-rice-tender
South Korea bought about 9,090 tons rice in a tender.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-buys-9090-tons-chinese-non-glutinous-rice-tender-passes-tender-10000-tons
South Korea issued a tender to buy about 70,366 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/south-korea-seeks-purchase-70366-tons-non-glutinous-rice-tenders
Mauritius issued a tender to buy about 6,000 tons rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/mauritius-invites-tenders-buy-6000-tons-long-grain-white-rice
Japan issued a tender to buy about 42,000 tons of rice.
http://www.oryza.com/news/tenders/japan-invites-tenders-buy-42000-tons-non-glutinous-milled-rice
Tags: oryza white rice index (OWRI), rice news, monthly rice report
Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Bids Getting Little to No Interest as Offers Hold
Sep 08, 2014
As of today, most offers were unchanged near $13.00-$13.33 per cwt fob farm (about $287-$294 per ton) while bids held around $12.50-$13.00 per cwt (about $276-$287 per ton) for September-October delivery; however, there were no trades reported.
In the meantime, the USDA estimates that as of Sep 7, 26% of the U.S. rice crop has been harvested which is 3% ahead of last year but 10% less than the previous 5-year average. As of now, the USDA estimates that 16% of the rice crop in Arkansas has been harvested compared to 2% in California, 76% in Louisiana, 16% in Mississippi, 5% in Missouri, and 82% in Texas.
The USDA also considers 74% of the U.S. crop to be in good-to-excellent condition, which was unchanged from last week and 3% better than this time last year, compared to 65% in Arkansas, 85% in California, 85% in Louisiana, 85% in Mississippi, 68% in Missouri, and 60% in Texas.
Tags: U.S. rice prices, U.S. rice market
Oryza Overnight Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Show Surprising Strength Despite Sliding Grain Complex
Sep 08, 2014
Chicago rough rice futures for Nov delivery are seen 2 cents per cwt (about $0.44 per ton) higher at $12.510 per cwt (about $276 per ton) during early floor trading in Chicago. The other grains are seen trading lower this morning: soybeans are currently seen 1% lower, wheat is listed about 1.1% lower and corn is noted about 1.9% lower.
U.S. stocks mostly fell on Monday, with oil companies leading the drop as the price of crude dropped more than a buck, as Wall Street paused after a fifth week of gains lifted the S&P 500 to a record, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average not far behind. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 37.63 points, or 0.2%, to 17,099.73. The energy sector fell the most and technology fared best among the 10 major industry groups on the S&P 500, lately down 5.51 points, or 0.3%, at 2,002.22, less than 9 points from its intraday record hit Thursday. The Nasdaq erased opening losses, lately up 9.18 points, or 0.2%, at 4,592.14. On Friday, stocks erased losses to end in positive terrain, with benchmark indexes extending gains into a fifth week, as investors detoured around a surprisingly disappointing jobs report. Gold is currently trading about 1% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 1.4% lower, and the U.S. dollar is currently trading about 0.3% higher at 8:45am Chicago time.
Tags: chicago rough rice futures, U.S. rice prices, U.S. rice market
Pakistan Basmati Rice Export Prices Increase Sharply in August 2014
Sep 08, 2014
Average Pakistan basmati rice export prices in August 2014 have increased sharply to Rs.1,430 per ton, up about 6% from around $1,350 per ton in July 2014, and up about 3% from around Rs.1,394 per ton in August 2013, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Average Pakistan basmati rice export prices increased for the first time after being stable at Rs.1,350 per ton level for four months from April - July 2014.According to the FAO, Pakistani rice prices averaged around $1,367 per ton during January - August 2014, down about 1% from around $1,380 per ton during the same period in 2013.
However, in terms of local currency, Pakistan's basmati rice prices increased to around PKR 144,430 per ton (using historical exchange rates) in August 2014, up about 9% from around PKR 132,165 per ton in July 2014, and down about 1% from about PKR 146,231 per ton in August 2013.
Tags: Pakistan basmati rice prices, Pakistan basmati rice exports
Indian States Reject Additional Rice Allocations under TDPS due to Inadequate Storage Facilities
Sep 08, 2014
Most of the Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana and Odisha, have been refusing additional rice allocations by the Central government under the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) due to lack of adequate storage facilities, according to local sources.In June 2014, the Indian government decided to release an additional 5 million tons of rice from central reserves into the open markets to prevent rice price hikes and inflation. The Food Ministry directed all the state governments to distribute the additional allocations to the above poverty line (APL) and below poverty line (BPL) families.
However, as most of the states do not have sufficient storage capacities, they have not picked up any rice from the FCI. According to local sources, only 230,000 tons of rice has been collected by some states, including Assam (56,000 tonne), Andhra Pradesh (41,375 tonne), West Bengal (39,372 tonne), Tamil Nadu (33,860 tonne) and Kerala (34,665 tonne), as they have efficient storage facilities as well as PDS systems.
“States usually take possession of grain from the FCI on a monthly basis for the TPDS, as they lack long-term storage facilities. So they find it difficult to lift the extra grain,” a food ministry official was quoted as saying.
India’s rice stocks in the central pool as of August 1, 2014 were about 24.56 million tons (including a milled equivalent of about 8.127 million tons of paddy), down about 16% from about 29.236 million tons recorded during the same time last year, according to data from the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Tags: India rice procurement, India inflation, India rice prices, Food Corporation of India (FCI)
Vietnam Rice Quotes Mixed Today; Pakistan Rice Sellers Increase Some of Their Quotes
Sep 08, 2014
Vietnam rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% and 25% broken rice by about $5 per ton each and lowered their quotes for 100% broken rice and Jasmine rice by about $5 per ton each today. Pakistan rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice and 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton each. Other Asia sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is quoted at around $425 - $435 per ton, about $25 per ton discount to Vietnam 5% rice quoted at around $450 - $460 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday. India 5% rice is quoted at around $440 - $450 per ton, and about $20 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice quoted at around $420 - $430 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice was last quoted at around $350 - $360 per ton, about $55 per ton discount to Vietnam 25% rice quoted at around $405 - $415 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday. India 25% rice is quoted at around $390 - $400 per ton, about $20 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice quoted at around $370 - $380 per ton.
Parboiled Rice
Thailand parboiled rice is quoted at around $430 - $440 per ton. India parboiled rice is quoted at around $430 - $440 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last quoted at around $440 - $450 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super, was last quoted at around $310 - $320 per ton, about $30 per ton discount to Vietnam broken rice quoted at around $340 - $350 per ton, down about $5 per ton from Friday. India broken sortexed rice is quoted at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan broken sortexed rice quoted at around $335 - $345 per ton, up about $5 per ton from Friday.
Tags: Vietnam rice prices, India rice prices, pakistan rice prices, Thailand rice prices
South Korea Increases Direct Subsidies to Rice Farmers
Sep 08, 2014
The South Korean government has decided to increase its fixed direct subsidies to rice farmers to around 1 million won (around $954) per hectare, up about 10% from existing 900,000 won (around $859) per hectare as part of its measures to open its rice import market, according to local sources.The government has also decided to increase direct subsidies for winter paddy crop to around 500,000 won (around $477) per hectare from the current 400,000 won (around $382) per hectare.
Following a party-government consultative meeting at the National Assembly on Friday, the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister told local reporters that the decision has been taken to ease farmers' concerns regarding the liberalization of the country's rice market. He also added that the government is considering to impose the highest tariff rate allowed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in order to protect the local rice sector and farmers.
The Minister noted that the government has also decided to lower interest rate on 11 different policy loans for rice farmers by about 0.5% to around 2%. He also stated thet the government has earmarked a total of 15.1 billion won (around $14.4) in the next year's budget to cover the expenses related to direct subsidies.The government decided to open its rice import market starting January 2015 as it is keen on protecting its own production in the light of declining rice consumption by cutting down on imports. Farmers and civic groups opposed the move saying it would hurt their livelihoods and the local rice sector.
Tags: South Korea rice production, South Korea Import Liberalization
Oryza Global Rice Quotes
September 8th, 2014
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade 440-450 ↔
Vietnam 5% broken 450-460 ↑
India 5% broken 440-450 ↔
Pakistan 5% broken 420-430 ↑
Cambodia 5% broken 465-475 ↔
U.S. 4% broken 535-545 ↔
Uruguay 5% broken 610-620 ↔
Argentina 5% broken 610-620 ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken NQ ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 405-415 ↑
Pakistan 25% broken 370-380 ↔
Cambodia 25% broken 450-460 ↔
India 25% broken 390-400 ↔
U.S. 15% broken 525-535 ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd 430-440 ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd 440-450 ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd 430-440 ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken 630-640 ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken 595-605 ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken NQ ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92% 1050-1060 ↔
Vietnam Jasmine 580-590 ↓
India basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Cambodia Phka Malis 880-890 ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super NQ ↔
Vietnam 100% broken 340-350 ↓
Pakistan 100% broken stxd 335-345 ↑
Cambodia A1 Super 360-370 ↔
India 100% Broken stxd 345-355 ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ ↔
U.S. pet food 470-480 ↔
Brazil half grain NQ ↔
Medium grain milled
U.S. Calrose 4% broken 1025-1035 ↔
Egypt medium grain 6% NQ ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com
