11th March ,2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Vietnam Plans to Develop Specialized Rice Growing Areas in Mekong Delta

Mar 10, 2015

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) of Vietnam is planning to develop specialized large-scale rice growing areas in the Mekong River Delta (MRD) region to cater to the growing needs of local and international markets, according to local sources.

An official from the Department of Plant Cultivation under the Ministry told local sources that the five areas include the Ca Mau Peninsula, the Tay Song Hau (western Hau River) area, the Tu Giac Long Xuyen region, alluvia soil along the Tien and Hau Rivers, and the Dong Thap Muoi region. He noted that specific rice varieties suitable to the existing weather conditions would be grown in these areas to ensure high-quality and yields.

The MRD region currently has around 100,000 hectares of large-scale rice area and the Ministry is planning to enhance it to around 800,000 hectares by 2020. According to data from the General Statistics Office (GSO) in Vietnam, the total rice area in the MRD is around 4.2 million hectares, about 54% of the country's rice area of around 7.8 million hectares.

Meanwhile, about 128 businesses purchased about 8% or around 79,360 tons of rice under the government's stockpiling program to purchase and stockpile one million tons of rice from the 2014-15 winter-spring harvest, according to the General Director of the state-owned VinaFood 2. The government approved the stockpiling scheme to protect prices from falling during the harvest season. However, the program could not provide the desired results in the past due to several constraints like inadequate storage facilities and lack of finance

Vietnam Deputy Trade Minister Foresees Surge in Rice Exports in 2015

Mar 10, 2015

The Vietnamese Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade has expressed optimism that Vietnam's rice exports, which declined about 4% y/y to around 6.4 million tons in 2014, to rebound in 2015 backed by increased demand from China and lower export prices, according to Bloomberg.The Deputy Minister expects rice exports to pick up from the second quarter. However, competition with Thailand is expected to limit the increase in 2015 exports to below 10%, he said. He noted that Thailand would remain the largest exporter in 2015 with about 11 million tons.

Though Thailand is a competitor for Chinese rice, the Minister noted that noted that Vietnam has several advantages such as competitive prices, suitable varieties and geographic proximity with China compared to Thailand. “The Chinese market will definitely become active again after quiet periods late 2014 and early this year,” he said.Vietnam's rice prices have been declining since the beginning of this year due to increased supplies from the ongoing winter-spring harvest and reduced export demand. Though Thailand's prices are currently higher than those of India and Pakistan, they are expected to decline due to the increased sales of the stockpiled rice, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA). Currently, Vietnam 5% rice is quoted at around $370 per ton compared to the Thai 5% rice and India 5% rice at around $400 per ton and around $395 per ton respectively.

Vietnam exported around 515,000 tons of rice in the first two months of 2015, down about 34% from around 690,100 tons exported during the same period in 2014, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).

South Korea Seeks to Buy 58,897 Tons of Non-Glutinous Rice in International Tenders

Mar 10, 2015

South Korea's state run Agro Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (KAFTC) is seeking to buy about 58,897 tons of non-glutinous rice in international tenders for delivery between June 30 and September 30, 2015, according to a statement on its website.KAFTC seeks to buy 12,000 tons of brown short-grain non-glutinous rice for delivery by June 30, 2015; 10,000 tons of brown short-grain non-glutinous rice for delivery by June 30, 2015; 11,897 tons of brown short-grain non-glutinous rice for delivery by September 30, 2015; 15,000 tons of brown medium-grain non-glutinous rice for delivery by June 30, 2015; and 10,000 tons of brown medium-grain non-glutinous rice for delivery by June 30, 2015 in international tenders.Registration of tenders will close at 4.00 p.m on March 23, 2015 and electronic bidding will take place on March 24, 2015 between 10.00 - 11.00 a.m.KAFTC bought 44,000 tons of brown rice of the U.S. and Chinese origins for delivery by May 31, 2015 in a tender that closed on February 25, 2015.

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Prices Hold Steady as USDA Decreases Ending Stocks

Mar 10, 2015

The U.S. cash market was unchanged today despite a slightly neutral to bullish WASDE report as both buy and sell interest remains limited at the current level.

Today’s USDA WASDE report showed a 1.0 million cwt (45,359 tons) increase in U.S. long grain exports based on expectations for increased exports in the Western Hemisphere.

This in turn decreased U.S. long grain ending stocks by the same amount putting their 2014/2015 carry over projection at 27.1 million cwts (1,229,237 tons), the largest figure since 2010/2011.

The USDA also increased their average farm price projection by $0.30 per cwt (about $7 per ton) bringing the range to $12.20-$12.80 per cwt (about $267-$282 per ton).

Some analysts took issue with the USDA’s call for greater exports because if the dollar continues to firm it will make U.S. origin rice less attractive to some destinations. 

Brazil Paddy Rice Index Declines Slightly from Last Week

Mar 10, 2015

The Brazilian paddy rice index maintained by the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA) reached around 36.02 real per 50 kilograms as of March 09, 2015, down about 0.3% from around 36.13 real per 50 kilograms recorded on March 02, 2015.In terms of USD per ton, the index reached around $232 per ton on March 09, 2015, down about 8% from around $252 per ton recorded on March 2, 2015.

 

Economies of Scale Consolidate Arkansas Rice Farms

Mar 10, 2015

Rice farmers in the Arkansas state of the U.S. are finding it more economical to grow rice on larger farms rather than on smaller firms given the huge operating costs associated with rice cultivation, according to Arkansas Business.

According to USDA, average size of rice farms grew about 63% from around 111 hectares in 1992 to around 181 hectares. The data also shows that the number of rice farms with over 400 hectares have more than doubled during the period to around 616 from 292. The result is that smaller size farms have reduced significantly.Accordingly, while the number of rice farms in the U.S. declined by about 46% during the period, the overall rice acreage declined only 12%. Effectively, a lot of expansion has happened to derive maximum economies of scale.

The USDA data shows that per hectare operating costs for rice averaged to around $1,038 between 2006-2009 compared to $607 for corn and $274 for soybeans. The data also shows that rice is the most profitable crop compared to corn and soybeans. Average per hectare turnover for rice was around $2,119 during the above-stated period compared to around $1,136 for corn and around $882 for soybeans.Also, a typical rice farm needs nearly $2.5 million for farming equipment, which is constant irrespective of farm size. So, farmers have started expanding the size of the farms significantly to take advantage of the economies of scale. Larger the farm, lesser costs, greater the income and profits.

Arkansas is the top rice producing state in the U.S. contributing to over 40% of total U.S. rice production. According to USDA data, Arkansas produced around 3.6 million tons of rice from around 430,400 hectares of rice area in 2013. 

Global Rice Quotes

March 10th, 2015

Long grain white rice - high quality

Thailand 100% B grade           410-420           ↓

Vietnam 5% broken     365-375           ↓

India 5% broken          390-400           ↔

Pakistan 5% broken     345-355           ↑

Myanmar 5% broken   415-425           ↑

Cambodia 5% broken 425-435           ↔

U.S. 4% broken           480-490           ↔

Uruguay 5% broken    NQ       ↔

Argentina 5% broken   NQ       ↔

Long grain white rice - low quality

Thailand 25% broken 365-375           ↔

Vietnam 25% broken   345-355           ↔

Pakistan 25% broken   310-320           ↑

Cambodia 25% broken            410-420           ↔

India 25% broken        355-365           ↔

U.S. 15% broken         470-480           ↔

Long grain parboiled rice

Thailand parboiled 100% stxd             400-410           ↔

Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd      395-405           ↑

India parboiled 5% broken stxd           385-395           ↔

U.S. parboiled 4% broken       555-565           ↔

Brazil parboiled 5% broken     570-580           ↔

Uruguay parboiled 5% broken             NQ       ↔

Long grain fragrant rice

Thailand Hommali 92%           920-930           ↔

Vietnam Jasmine         465-475           ↑

India basmati 2% broken         NQ       ↔

Pakistan basmati 2% broken    NQ       ↔

Cambodia Phka Mails 790-800           ↔

Brokens

Thailand A1 Super       325-335           ↑

Vietnam 100% broken             310-320           ↓

Pakistan 100% broken stxd     280-290           ↓

Cambodia A1 Super    345-355           ↔

India 100% broken stxd          280-290           ↔

Egypt medium grain brokens   NQ       ↔

U.S. pet food   380-390           ↔

Brazil half grain           NQ       ↔

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

Asia Rice Quotes Mixed Today

Mar 10, 2015

Thailand rice sellers lowered their quotes for 5% broken rice by about $5 per ton to around $395 - $405 per ton and increased their quotes for 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton to around $325 - $335 per ton today. Vietnam rice sellers lowered their quotes for 5% broken rice and 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton each to around $365 - $375 per ton and around $310 - $320 per ton respectively, and increased their quotes for Jasmine rice by about $10 per on to around $465 - $475 per ton. Pakistan rice sellers lowered their quotes for 100% broken rice by about $10 per ton and increased their quotes for 5% broken rice, 25% broken rice and Parboiled rice by about $5 per ton each. India rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged today.

5% Broken Rice

Thailand 5% rice is quoted at around $395 - $405 per ton, down about $5 per ton from yesterday and  about $30 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice  shown at around $365 - $75 per ton, down about $5 per ton from yesterday. India 5% rice is quoted at around $390 - $400 per ton, about $45 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice quoted at around $345 - $355per ton, up about $5 per ton from yesterday.

25% Broken Rice 

Thailand 25% rice is quoted at around $365 - $375 per ton, about $20 per ton premium on Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $345- $355 per ton. India 25% rice is quoted at around $355 - $365, about $45 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice quoted at around $310 - $320 per ton, up about $5 per ton from yesterday.

Parboiled Rice

Thailand parboiled rice is quoted at around $400 - $410 per ton. India parboiled rice is quoted at around $385 - $395 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice quoted at around $395 - $405 per ton, up about $5 per ton from yesterday.

100% Broken Rice

Thailand broken rice, A1 Super, is quoted at around $325 - $335per ton, up about $5 per ton from yesterday about $15 per ton premium on Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $310 - $320per ton, down about $5 per ton from yesterday. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $280 - $290 per ton,  on par with Pakistan broken sortexed rice quoted at around $280 - $290 per ton, down about $10 per ton from yesterday.

About 915,429 Tons of Italy's 2014-15 Paddy Crop Sold as of March 3, 2015; Up 11% from Last Year

Mar 10, 2015

Around 631,058 tons, or about 64.82% of total Italian 2014-15 (September 2014 - August 2015) paddy crop has been sold out as of March 3, 2015, up about 11% from around 826,943 tons sold during the same period last year, according to data from the Ente Nazionale Risi, the National Agency for Rice.

Around 400,158 tons of Long-A varieties; 264,989 tons of Long-B varieties; 229,520 tons of round paddies and 20,762 tons of medium varieties have been sold since the beginning of this crop year. Loto-Ariete, with 139,644 tons and Arborio-Volano, with 61,230 tons, Baldo with 57,359 and Roma with 24,258 tons remained the best sold varieties year to date. 

During the week February 24, 2015 - March 3, 2015, a total of around 27,700 tons of paddy were sold. The week's sales included about 11,682 tons of Long A, about 8,559 tons of Long B, about 7,189 tons of round paddy and 270 tons of medium paddy. Loto-Ariete, with 5,706 tons and Arborio-Volano, with 2,385 tons remained the best sold varieties during the week.

A total of around 1.412 million tons of paddy are available as beginning stocks for 2014-15, down about 4% from around 1.466 million tons available last year. Around 496,900 tons or about 35.18% of total stocks are yet to be sold. 

Prices of all varieties remained stable or increased since the last week of November 2014 due to adequate supplies and sales.Italian 2014-15 paddy crop harvest began on September 1, 2014 and is almost complete, according to official sources. Farmers had to face challenges such as average low temperatures, damp weather and scanty rainfall during the planting and growth stages in summer, according to local sources. They are also worried about falling rice prices due to increasing rice imports from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) under the Everything but Arms (EBA) agreement.

Italian Rice Project Revisits Ancient Roman Tradition

Mar 10, 2015

Italian rice community is all charged up for the International Expo 2015, which will take place in Milan from May 1 to October 31, 2015. If some artist is taking the opportunity to design a roof top terrace on a commercial complex in Milan, some others are planning to use the event to promote rice dishes in European school canteens.The rice estate Tenuta Colombara in the Italian town Vercelli and global food chain Slow Food International are planning to use the ancient Roman tradition "Giovedì gnocchi" (On Thursday potato dumplings), which encouraged people in Rome to cook potatoes on Thursdays, in European schools through a project called "On Wednesday? Rice".

The project aims at convincing all the European schools to serve rice to its students at least once a week, i.e., on Wednesdays.The project also encourages school children to participate in a rice culinary competition. Students attending 4th year of primary schools in Europe can send in their recipes to the Jury before April 15, 2015 and final selected recipes will be cooked in the farms of Tenuta Colombara located in Livorno Ferraris. Winning class will also have the privilege of attending the expo in October 2015.

Indonesia President Rules Out Rice Imports Despite Continuing Price Hikes

Mar 10, 2015

The Indonesian President has ruled out rice imports despite continuing price hikes and pressure from related departments, according to local sources.The President was quoted as saying that he discourages imports though they can immediately stabilize prices. He noted that the current rice stocks with the state logistics agency Bulog reached around 1.7 million tons and has expressed an optimism of receiving a good output from the ongoing harvest by March.

The government began operations for distributing Bulog rice in the market on February 25, 2015 for controlling price hikes. The President apprised local sources that the government so far distributed 400,000 tons of rice. A few days back he noted that stocks would be sufficient despite a rise in demand.He also noted that prices have started reversing in the Cipinang market and hoped to see further price falls. He called on the rice farmers to work towards increasing rice yields to maintain adequate stocks. e said the government would support them with adequate facilities and infrastructure, including irrigation systems, tractors, rice-planting machines, combine harvesters, and seeds.

Average rice prices have been increasing since September 2014. Currently, average rice prices stand at around 9.94 million rupiah (around $780 per ton).The Director General of the  Agriculture Ministry is expecting the harvest from the ongoing crop season at around 13.2 million tons, basis paddy. Indonesia's 2015 paddy rice production is expected to reach about 71.28 million tons, up about 0.95% from around 70.6 million tons produced in 2014.USDA estimates Indonesia to import around 1.3 million tons of rice in MY 2014-15 (October - September). The UN's FAO estimates Indonesia to import 1.2 million tons of rice in 2014-15 (April - March).Separately, the Social Affairs Ministry has announced its plans to improve the national rice for the poor (raskin) program in line with the government's efforts to overcome rice shortages and possible corruption in the scheme.

Indian Exporters Expect Iran to Resume Basmati Rice Imports Soon

Mar 10, 2015

Indian exporters' associations, including the Federation of Indian Exports Organisation (FIEO) and the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) are expecting Iran to resume basmati rice imports from India after the new financial year begins in April 2015, according to local sources.Iran is a major destination for India's basmati rice exports and accounts for nearly 40% of India's total basmati rice exports. The Middle East nation had temporarily banned rice imports in November 2014 as it was holding excess stocks from last year's imports as well as a bumper crop in 2014. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated Iran's 2014 rice output at around 3 million tons, up about 3% from around 2.9 million tons in 2013.

Iran imported around 1.44 million tons of rice in 2013-14, up about 33% from around 1.08 million tons imported in 2012-13. India's basmati rice exports to Iran were primarily impacted due to Iran's stance to revise the accepted level of arsenic content in basmati rice from 150 parts per billion (ppb) to 120 ppb in March 2014. Later in September 2014, Iran also increased import duty on basmati rice from 22% to 45% before banning rice imports in November 2014.

India exported around 706,665 tons of basmati rice to Iran in the first nine months of FY 2014-15 (April - December), according to APEDA. At this pace, rice market analysts expect India's basmati rice imports to Iran to decline by about 15-20% to around1.15 - 1.2 million tons  in 2014-15.

The Director General of the FIEO told local sources that the Iran authorities are likely to lift the ban and start issuing permits to Indian exporters soon. Once Iran issues import permits, India would commence basmati rice exports to Iran, added the Director of the APEDA. “Iranian officials have indicated that they will resume the process of re-registration of Basmati suppliers. The country is supposed to come up with its notification (on lifting curbs) on March 21," a Commerce Ministry official was quoted as saying earlier.

India exported around 2.57 million tons of basmati rice in April - December 2014, down about 6% from around 2.74 million tons exported during the same period in 2013-14. India exported around 3.76 million tons of basmati rice in 2013-14, up about 9% from around 3.46 million tons in 2012-13, according to data from APEDA.

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11thMarch ,2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine