4th February(Wednesday),2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged Today

Feb 04, 2015

Asia rice sellers kept their quotes mostly unchanged today.

5% Broken Rice

Thailand 5% rice is quoted at around $405 - $415 per ton, about $50 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $355 - $365 per ton. India 5% rice is quoted at around $395 - $405 per ton, about $40 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice quoted at around $355 - $365 per ton.

25% Broken Rice 

Thailand 25% rice is quoted at around $365 - $375 per ton, about $40 per ton premium on Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $325- $335 per ton. India 25% rice is quoted at around $360 - $370, about $50 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice quoted at around $310 - $320 per ton.

Parboiled Rice

Thailand parboiled rice is quoted at around $405 - $415 per ton. India parboiled rice is quoted at around $390 - $400 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice quoted at around $400 - $410 per ton.

100% Broken Rice

Thailand broken rice, A1 Super, is quoted at around $320 - $330 per ton, about $15 per ton premium on Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $305 - $315 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $295 - $305 per ton,  about $15 per ton premium on Pakistan broken sortexed rice quoted at around $280 - $290 per ton.

Nepal Imports 97,098 Tons of Rice from India in First Six Months of FY 2014-15; Up 42% from Last Year

Feb 04, 2015

Nepal has imported about 97,098 tons of rice from India through the Belhiya (Bhairahawa) transit point in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2014-15 (August 2014 - July 2015), up about 42% from around 68,397 tons imported during the same period in FY 2013-14 according to the Customs officials. Nepal's rice imports from India have been increasing over the last few years due to Nepalese preference for fine rice over medium and coarse rice, according to an official from the Ministry of Agricultural Development.According to Nepal Rastra Bank's (NRB) statistics, Nepal imported rice worth Rs.12.37 billion (around $121.45 million) in 2013-14, up about 46% from around Rs.8.47 billion (around $83.16 million) despite surplus rice stocks of around 800,000 tons from the previous fiscal due to rising disposable incomes and the Nepalese preference for better quality rice.

According to MoAD, rice imports are expected to increase this year also due to an expected decline in production. Nepal's 2014 paddy rice production is likely to decline about 5.1% to around 4.78 million tons from around 5 million tons last year due to a late monsoon and untimely rainfall, according to MoAD sources. The decline is primarily attributed to below average rainfall during the transplantation time.

USDA estimates Nepal to import around 350,000 tons of rice in 2015. It estimates Nepal’s MY 2014-15 (October 2014 – September 2015) paddy rice production to decline to about 4.655 million tons (around 3.1 million tons, basis milled) from an estimated 5 million tons (around 3.36 million tons, basis milled) in MY 2013-14.

Global Rice Quotes

February 4th, 2015

Long grain white rice - high quality

Thailand 100% B grade           415-425           ↔

Vietnam 5% broken     355-365           ↔

India 5% broken          395-405           ↔

Pakistan 5% broken     355-365           ↔

Myanmar 5% broken   410-420           ↔

Cambodia 5% broken 440-450           ↔

U.S. 4% broken           495-505           ↔

Uruguay 5% broken    NQ       ↔

Argentina 5% broken   NQ       ↔

Long grain white rice - low quality

Thailand 25% broken 365-375           ↔

Vietnam 25% broken   325-335           ↔

Pakistan 25% broken   310-320           ↔

Cambodia 25% broken            420-430           ↔

India 25% broken        360-370           ↔

U.S. 15% broken         485-495           ↔

Long grain parboiled rice

Thailand parboiled 100% stxd             405-415           ↔

Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd      400-410           ↔

India parboiled 5% broken stxd           390-400           ↔

U.S. parboiled 4% broken       550-560           ↔

Brazil parboiled 5% broken     570-580           ↔

Uruguay parboiled 5% broken             NQ       ↔

Long grain fragrant rice

Thailand Hommali 92%           925-935           ↔

Vietnam Jasmine         450-460           ↔

India basmati 2% broken         NQ       ↔

Pakistan basmati 2% broken    NQ       ↔

Cambodia Phka Mails 785-795           ↔

Brokens

Thailand A1 Super       320-330           ↔

Vietnam 100% broken             305-315           ↔

Pakistan 100% broken stxd     280-290           ↔

Cambodia A1 Super    350-360           ↔

India 100% broken stxd          295-305           ↔

Egypt medium grain brokens   NQ       ↔

U.S. pet food   405-415           ↔

Brazil half grain           NQ       ↔

All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com

Italy to Review Development of Rice Seed Sector

Feb 03, 2015

Italy will review the development in the rice seed sector in a meeting on February 4, 2015, which will be attended by the Ente nazionale risi, the National Agency for Rice, the CRA-SCS (Council for Research and Testing in Agriculture, and for Seed Testing and Certification), and Assosementi, which includes about 30 companies involved in seed research. The meeting will be conducted in the premises of the Centro ricerche sul riso (National rice research center) in Castello d'Agogna, according to local sources.

Issues such as the introduction of new rice seed varieties, their resistance to diseases like rice blast and their requirement of nitrogen fertilizers will be dealt with in the meeting. The meeting will also review the results of testing of various methods that deal with the use of sewage sludge in agriculture; and the results of agronomic testing and the seeding activities conducted by the National Agency for Rice in co-operation with CRA-SCS and Assosementi. Seed companies will be encouraged to present new seed varieties and awards will be presented to seed breeders.

Japan Buys and Sells 895 tons of Whole Grain Rice and 500 Tons of Broken Rice in 6th SBS Tender of FY 2014

Feb 03, 2015

Japan has bought and sold a total of around 895 tons of whole grain/brown rice of the U.S., Australia, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam origins; and around 500 tons of broken rice of the Thailand and Vietnam origins, in the sixth SBS (Simultaneous Buy-Sell) tender, according to official sources.The tonnage and price details of different types of rice imported are as follows:

Whole grain rice:

Broken rice:

A tax equivalent to about 8% is applicable on all purchases and sales.Under the SBS tender, Japan government buys rice of various origins from Japanese traders at one price and then simultaneously sells the rice back to those same companies, at a higher price, for sale in the domestic market. Usually the difference between the buying price and selling price is set by the government.

TREA Estimates 2015 Thailand Rice Exports to Decline 9% y/y to 10 Million Tons

Feb 03, 2015

The Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) is estimating Thailand's 2015 rice exports to decline to around 10 million tons, down about 9% from about 10.97 million tons exported in 2014 due to strong competition from Vietnam, according to Reuters.The TREA Chairman told reporters that Vietnam is likely to capture more market share as it had lowered prices. He also noted that the government may not be able to sell its targeted 10 million tons from its stockpiles as there is limited appetite for old rice crop. Declining demand from African countries, especially Nigeria (as falling oil prices are reducing their buying capacity), would also impact Thai parboiled rice exports, he said.

According to Bloomberg, the TREA Chairman also noted that Vietnamese rice has become more competitive since the devaluation of Dong, while the strengthening Baht has made Thai rice less competitive in the global markets.Currently, Thai 5% rice is quoted at around $405 per ton compared to about $360 per ton of Vietnam 5% rice, about $400 per ton of India 5% rice and about $360 per ton of Pakistan 5% rice. The TREA President said he is expecting the current price of Thai 5% rice to drop by about 3% over the next few weeks.

USDA Post Estimates 2015 Japan Rice Imports at 700,000 Tons; Up 8% from Last Year

Feb 03, 2015

The USDA Post has estimated Japan to import around 700,000 tons of rice in 2015, up about 8% from an estimated 650,000 ton in 2014 due to an expected decline in production. Based on production data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Post reports that the 2014 rice production declined about 2% to around 7.679 million tons from around 7.832 million tons in 2013. The decline is attributed to a decline in the planting area by about 1.5% y/y to around 1.573 million hectares.

The Post reports that demand for imported rice has been declining since 2012 as an increase in production led to adequate supply in the local markets and a decline in local rice prices. The Post also reports that Japan imported only 8,943 tons of rice in five Simultaneous Buy and Sell (SBS) in the first ten months of Japan's financial year (April - March) 2014-15. The Post expects Japan not to import the targeted 100,000 tons under the SBS tenders. However, the Post reports that imports under the Ordinary Minimum Access (OMA) quota have been similar to the last year's pace. While China's share in the OMA rice increased, that of Thailand and the U.S. has decreased according to the Post. However, the U.S.'s share in the SBS rice remains same as last year, shares of China and Thailand have increased, and the share of Australia has declined, reports the Post.  

Contents are published with permission of ORYZA.com

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4th February(Wednesday),2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine