Tuesday, November 17, 2015

16th November,2015 Daily Global,Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

Rice News Headlines...

·         Climate change: States must focus on risk management in agriculture

·         Better Rice initiative to help Mekong farmers

·         Buhari To Launch N20bn CBN Loan For Local Rice Farmers In Nigeria

·         PhilRice should help build farmers’ climate resilience’

·         Wrap Up With Rice Student Competition Nourishes Minds

·         CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures  

·         Rice prices may reach boiling point in coming months

·         Butte County rice farmers learn how it grows in Italy’s Po Valley

·         Kangaroo rogan josh

·         Deficient rains may push up rice prices

·         Basmati rice and sugar stocks up on favourable fundamentals

·         Amira Nature Foods Ltd Announces New Distribution Win in Northeast United States

·         APEDA Rice Commodity News

·         PH to miss 2015 rice output target, expects modest rise in Q1 2016

·         Farmers troubled by good rice harvest

·         El NiƱo, Lando to cut 2015 palay output by 3.54%

·         Q3 PALAY OUTPUT CONTRACTS 16%

·         Govt strengthens prevention of commodity price fixing

·         Thailand to start sale of 2 mln T of spoiled rice this month

·         Annual rice imports of 1.1m tons required in Iran: official

·         Second-crop farmers given govt warnings


News Detail...

Climate change: States must focus on risk management in agriculture

Hindustan Times
  
Updated: Nov 16, 2015 22:55 IST

The farmers not only need access to climate-resistant varieties across agrarian products, but such interventions have to reach them before a natural disaster actually strikes. (Representative Photo: Arun Mondhe/ HT)


This year is turning out to be a milestone year for the world’s future: In September, 192 countries signed the Sustainable Development Goals and on November 30, delegates from 195 countries will converge in Paris for 12 days to hammer out a new global climate accord. There are several cross-cutting issues between the two mega meets, climate change and agriculture being the two big ones.
It is a no-brainer why the impact of climate change on agriculture is significant: While all economic activities experience hazards from nature, agriculture is one of the riskiest and climate change is becoming a source of significant additional risks for agriculture and food systems. In fact, in the last 40 years, the impact of climate change on agriculture has been significant and going forward, it will increasingly become tougher.

A World Bank paper says that each degree Celsius of global warming is projected to lead to an overall yield loss of about 5%. As climate change progresses, it is increasingly likely that current systems will no longer be viable in many locations. This is a serious warning for the world, particularly India, since figures show that the country will have 1.5 billion mouths to feed by 2030.
Description: http://www.hindustantimes.com/rf/image_size_640x362/HT/p2/2015/11/16/Pictures/neemuch-production-representative-wednesday-mondhe-agricultural-hindustan_cdff6e44-8c84-11e5-8626-d6ed0b59308e.jpg
The World Bank paper rightly advises focusing more on risk management in agriculture. There are already examples of such work: The International Rice Research Institute in collaboration with advanced US research labs, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, state agricultural universities, and the ministry of science and technology’s department of biotechnology have spearheaded plant breeding to develop strains of rice that are resistant to effects of climate change, like flash flood, stagnant flooding, salinity, and drought.Just think how much farmers in Bundelkhand and Maharashtra today would have benefited if they had access to drought-resistant crops. Investing in climate-resilient agriculture has several downstream effects: It can stem migration, improve rural demand and ensure food security. The farmers, however, not only need access to climate-resistant varieties across agrarian products, but such interventions have to reach them before a natural disaster actually strikes.

Better Rice initiative to help Mekong farmers

November, 16 2015 09:32:00

Farmers take care of rice field in the Mekong Delta Kien Giang Province. About 3,000 farmers from the region will benefit from a project called Better Rice Initiative Asia that has been launched in Can Tho City. — Photo VNA/VNS PhotoCAN THO (VNS) — About 3,000 farmers from three Mekong Delta provinces will benefit from a project called Better Rice Initiative Asia that has been launched in Can Tho City.Carried out as part of the Integrated Coastal Management Programme, the project aims to promote private-public partnerships along the rice value chain through adoption of a sustainable rice cultivation model harnessing the latest technologies.
Description: http://vietnamnews.vn/thumbnail/450/ttxvn_vudongxuan151109.jpg?url=Storage/Images/2015/11/16/ttxvn_vudongxuan151109.jpgIn the first phase, it will be carried out in the provinces of Dong Thap, Hau Giang, and Kien Giang. It will seek to improve farmers' knowledge of rice cultivation and promote the adoption of modern technologies in an environment-friendly and sustainable manner.Its focus is also to improve the rice value chain as a whole, from input to output, to strengthen the connection between rice production and market consumption to ensure rice quality and market satisfaction, enabling farmers to increase their incomes.
The project aims at increasing farmers' incomes by at least 30 per cent through increasing yields and/or reducing input costs by adopting innovative rice cultivation methods. Furthermore, it said, rice harvested from this project would meet EU quality standards."The focus of the project is innovative and synchronised technology solutions, including the use of good seeds, integrated crop management, water and nutrient management, integrated pest management … to utilize effectively rice input, increasing yields and quality, reducing losses and costs, and at the same time increasing labour productivity and farmers' incomes," Phan Huy Thong, Director of the Viet Nam National Agricultural Extension Centre, said.
"The project can contribute greatly to the adaptation and mitigation of climate change for sustainable rice production in Viet Nam."The project supports the stakeholders in the rice value chain in applying the large field model. This is a key measure to restructure Viet Nam's agriculture by increasing added value and farmers' incomes and boosting sustainable rice production."The other key stakeholders involved in the project are the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dong Thap, Hau Giang and Kien Giang provinces, the International Rice Research Institute, and the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute. — VNS
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/278571/better-rice-initiative-to-help-mekong-farmers.html

 

Buhari To Launch N20bn CBN Loan For Local Rice Farmers In Nigeria


Description: Africa-Rice-Agriculture
President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) will on Tuesday officially launch N20billion ‘Anchor Borrowers’ Programme’ (ABP) which the Central Bank of Nigeria has set aside for rice farmers across the country.The programme which is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed at creating an Ecosystem to link out-growers (Small Holder Farmers) to local processors will take place in Kebbi State.Under the ABP, the CBN in a statement Saturday said it has set aside the sum of N20 billion from the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) for farmers at a single-digit interest rate of 9.0 per cent to address the challenges of poor funding.

The Governor of the CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele who met with rice producers and millers recently, said that the developmental initiatives programme has been designed to create economic linkages between farmers and processors to not only ensure increased agricultural output of rice paddy, but also importantly close the gap between production and consumption by ramping up utilisation capacity of Nigeria’s integrated rice mills.Emefiele said if these noble objectives can be achieved, it is not unlikely that the country will require even more integrated milling capacity to meet the huge local production of rice paddy.

According to him, “The essence of the meeting was not to apportion blames to any party on the current prevailing situation but to identify ways for all stakeholders to work together in a creative synergy to mop up any excess unsold paddy and going forward key into the CBN’s ‘ABP.Emefiele who expressed optimism that the new initiative would work, urged millers and investors in the rice value chain who have been joined by representatives of the state governments of some key rice producing states to collaborate with the CBN to ensure that in the next few years Nigeria as a great country will no longer be one of the world’s highest importer of rice but a net exporter of the commodity.

He, however, said that the country can never fully attain its true potentials by simply importing everything into the country, stressing that such trend has resulted in the low operating capacities of the manufacturing industries and cannot be allowed to continue.He explained that policy document of the programme also indicated that the anchor borrowers’ programme will build capacity of banks in agricultural lending to farmers and entrepreneurs in the value chain, reduce commodity importation. It will also reduce the level of poverty among small holder farmers and create jobs while assisting rural small-holder farmers to grow from subsistence to commercial production levels.

He identified lack of mechanisation, low quality inputs and poor funding as major hindrances to rice production in Nigeria but stressed that the programme was aimed at solving the problem of finance.On the conditions for accessing the loan, the CBN boss said the farmers will be thoroughly trained on the global best agronomical practices.“The farmers must be a member of a validated cooperative before applying for the loan. We will find out how much it will take to produce one hectare of rice to determine the amount that will be given to each individual. The idea is to enhance efficient management of the resources” he said.Speaking further, he said Nigeria is a major rice producer with over 20 key rice producing states in the country with most cultivating under two seasons: wet and dry seasons.

“Rice is one crop in which the country has comparative advantage to easily become self-sufficient given the huge potentials that exists. Today, rice is no longer considered a luxury food to millions of Nigerians but has become a cereal that constitutes a major source of calories for both the rural and urban populations of the country.”“Indeed figures from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development indicate that in the period, 2012 to 2014 paddy rice production in the country grew from 4.5 million metric tones in 2012, to 7.89 million metric tones in 2013, peaking at 10.7 million MT in 2014.

”The Governor said that the capacity of the country to achieve even better production figures cannot be overemphasized, considering that only about 40 per cent of the available potential land area for rice production is currently being cultivated.He stated that the production figures above show that in recent history, the country had never witnessed such rapid growth of paddy rice production.Meanwhile, some dynamic features of this new agricultural initiative include the Identification and selection of Small Holder Farmers, grouping of out-growers into viable cooperatives/clusters, registration of the cooperatives, determination of the economics of selection and engagement of banks/ insurance companies, capacity Building of out-growers, banks’ staff and extension agents.Other salient features of the initiative also include opening of bank accounts by cooperatives/farmers, loan application and disbursement, commencement of agronomic practices and distribution of agro-inputs at recommended periods.

http://naija247news.com/2015/11/buhari-launches-n20bn-cbn-loan-for-rice-farmers-tuesday/

PhilRice should help build farmers’ climate resilience’

posted November 16, 2015 at 12:01 am by  Ferdie G. Domingo

SCIENCE CITY OF MUƑOZ, Nueva Ecija—A former director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute said those in the agency must think out of the box as it pursues a climate-resilient agriculture for Filipino farmers.Calixto Protacio, former executive director, said this as the agency observed its 30th anniversary this weekend.The anniversary is marked by 70 rice varieties bred, 24 rice machines developed, 23 patents applied for, and several other achievements in rice research and development.
Protacio led the two-day celebration at PhilRice’s central experiment station here along with officials and various stakeholders, including farmers.“We are eager to do more so our research outputs will reach more farmers, particularly the resource-poor farmer,” Protacio said in his anniversary message.PhilRice, which has been leading rice R & D efforts since its founding in 1985, has provided cost-reducing and yield-enhancing technologies on rice.MuƱoz Mayor Nestor Alvarez said with PhilRice, MuƱoz is now heralded as among the major rice seeds hub in the country.“MuƱoz is privileged to host PhilRice.

Along the national highway, one cannot help but notice the proliferation of rice seed centers, making the Science City a major rice seeds hub in the Philippines,” he said.This certainly creates a domino effect in terms of livelihood creation from people manning the rice fields, sales agents, to the many of input dealers in the city.Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang, PhilRice deputy executive director for development, noted that the institute has become visible through the Be RICEponsible campaign, a nationwide initiative to convince local governments to issue ordinances on half-cup serving of rice on major food establishments to arrest the issue on rice wastage.Quilang said the campaign has yielded encouraging results. “We are all united to help reduce rice wastage in the Philippines,” he said.

Eden Gagelonia of the PhilRice’s rice engineering and mechanization division said the institute is also leading efforts to mechanize the rice industry. “A number of machines has been developed to help reduce work load in farming and make them useful even for women farmers.’’Meanwhile, former executive director Leocadio S. Sebastian advised PhilRice to “properly position itself” amid climate change and other threats to rice food production.“PhilRice should focus its programs, harness its networks and partners, and think outside the box in developing, together with our farmers and concerned stakeholders, options for a competitive, sustainable, and climate-smart agriculture,” said Sebastian, who headed PhilRice from 2000-2008.

Aside from its central experiment station here, PhilRice also has branch stations in Batac City, Ilocos Norte; San Mateo, Isabela; Los BaƱos, Laguna; Ligao City, Albay; Murcia, Negros Occidental; Romualdez, Agusan del Norte; Central Mindanao State University, Bukidon; and Midsayap, North Cotabato.In 2015, Philrice received the Anak ni Juan Award from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhl). It recognizes PhilRice as the agency with the most number of patents applied.Jerry Serapion, Philrice intellectual property management chief, said the award is a testament to the intensive knowledge production going on in the institute.As a research institute, PhilRice is tasked to advance the various frontiers of rice science. Protacio said that this year, more than 25 scientific publications have been produced by the institute’s researchers and scientists.

Some of these were even published in some of the most reputable journals in the world such as the Journal of Food Agriculture and Environment, International Journal of Ecology and Conservation, Philippine Journal of Crop Science, and the Philippine Agricultural Scientist.

http://thestandard.com.ph/news/-provinces/192011/-philrice-should-help-build-farmers-climate-resilience-.html

Wrap Up With Rice Student Competition Nourishes Minds

TORONTO, CANADA -- U.S. brown rice was on the minds and in the hands of Toronto high school students during the 2015 Wrap Up With Rice culinary competition that took place last month at the Loblaws® Cooking School at Maple Leaf Gardens. USA Rice Director for International Promotion Sarah Moran said, "USA Rice participates in this event as a means to put rice into the hands of culinary educators to familiarize students with U.S.-grown rice, its health benefits, and applicability as a versatile and affordable cooking ingredient.  Inspiring the students and teachers to participate in the competition was r-icing on the cake!
"Three teams of four students each created a brown rice recipe in front of a seven-member judging panel, including media influencers, two of Canada's top chefs, and key members from both the Toronto District School Board and the Breakfast for Learning charity.
Moran said, "The students worked well under pressure even as judges and television cameras invaded their work stations.  Selecting a winning team was tough with the first and second place teams' only two points apart."The Grand Prize was awarded to the team from Central Tech Institute for their Fiesta Tomato, Corn, and Rice Soup.
 Second place was a Mexican Chicken and Rice Fiesta recipe created by Thistletown Collegiate Institute, and the team from Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute took third with their Cilantro and Lime Brown Rice Steak Wrap.The Wrap Up With Rice event was part of feed tomorrow, a week-long program dedicated to raising awareness and money to help feed Toronto school children and nourish hungry minds.
 First place winners -- $600 buys a lot of rice
Contact:  Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   

CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for November 16  
Month
Price
Net Change

January 2016
$11.840
- $0.305
March 2016
$12.100
- $0.305
May 2016
$12.390
- $0.300
July 2016
$12.640
- $0.310
September 2016
$12.205
- $0.310
November 2016
$12.205
- $0.310
January 2017
$12.205
- $0.310

 

Rice prices may reach boiling point in coming months

  
As per the government estimates, kharif rice production is estimated at 90.61 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year.NEW DELHI: After pulses, rice prices may also shoot up and reach a "boiling point" in the coming months due to depletingstocks and likely fall in its kharif output, according to industry body Assocham. The report, however, contradicts the current price trend in the market, where wholesale prices of non-basmati prices are ruling down at Rs 25 per kg as against Rs 30 per kg last year. Similarly, wholesale rates of premium basmati rice have declined sharply by about 30 per cent to Rs 44-45 per kg at present from Rs 62-65 per kg last season, as per traders. 
Description: RiceWhereas industry body Assocham in its study said after pulses, onion and mustard oil, rice prices may trouble consumers if timely adequate safeguards are not taken. "...prices of rice may shoot up and reach a boiling point in the coming months as the stock of the key staple cereal is depleting fast owing to deficient rains and fall in output," the study said. As per the government estimates, kharif rice production is estimated at 90.61 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year. "...this is unlikely to be achieved due to severe deficit rains in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka and the best that could be achieved is 89 million tonnes," it said adding that overall rice output may be around 103 million tonnes during 2015-16. That apart, the study said rice stocks have declined in last three years from 24.59 million tonnes in 2012 to 13.89 million tonnes (plus unlimited paddy 3.61 tonnes) in stocks at present. "Increasing export outgo on account of PDS (Public Distribution System) and other welfare schemes will continue to weigh on availability in the open market. Unless government is able to handle the situation prudently, depleting stocks will soon reflect on the open market prices", adds the study.

The times of India

Butte County rice farmers learn how it grows in Italy’s Po Valley


By Mary Wurlitzer, Special to the Enterprise-Record
POSTED: 11/13/15, 10:01 PM PST | UPDATED: 3 DAYS AGO

Left to right, Brad and Mary Wurlitzer tour the farm of Italian rice grower Ambrogio Giovanni, during a recent visit to the Po Valley in Northern Italy.My interest in rice lead me to the 2015 World Expo in Milan, where the theme was “Feeding the Plant, Energy for Life.” Milan is in the Po Valley which is the largest and most important economic region in Italy. Countries who did not have their own pavilion formed clusters bringing specific foods to the masses.Rice was the No. 1 cluster because it is the staple food and source of energy for 3 billion people.After attending the Expo, I decide to find Italian rice farmers to visit and learn how they grow their non-sticky rice varieties such as Arborio, Carnaroli, Vialone Nano, which are the historical varieties.
The Vercelli area, west of Milan, is similar to the Sacramento valley in that it is flat with an extensive irrigation system (some designed by Leonardo da Vinci) obtaining water from the nearby mountains. It also has warm temperatures. The first records of rice growing in the Po Valley are from 1427 which yielded more than other grains could in the area. Two families were generous with their time and gave us a thorough tour of their farms. Lunch was a major part of this union, including various dishes of the rice they grew.One dish consisted of a wild boar with rice and another lunch provided various risotto rice dishes.
 
WHAT WE LEARNED ...
Description: Left to right, Brad and Mary Wurlitzer tour the farm of Italian rice grower Ambrogio Giovanni, during a recent visit to the Po Valley in northern Italy.
The Italians used to plant their rice one plant at a time by hand as late as the 1950s. Today Italians seed by machine with an adaptor that air drills the seed into the ground. Long black hoses are attached to a machine and easily positioned depending on where plants are desired. The plots are too small for aerial application of seed, as is done in California. Other crops — such as tomatoes, soybeans and corn — are rotated to help eliminate weeds in the rice fields. Italians do not have army worms in their fields, which is the case in California. Yet, they put up with nutria, which is a large, dark-colored, semiaquatic rodent originally found in South America.

 Burrowing is the most commonly reported damage caused by nutria, which diverts water from the rice fields. However, they also eat the part of the structural support of the plants.Water was an interesting topic considering California’s current condition. We visited one rice field south of Milan that had reconditioned water from Milan available any time. However, to the west of Milan, the area of Vercelli, water was restricted. Rice growers could only obtain water in their canals two days a week. The farmer had to figure out how to make that last for the rest of the week, even during flooding of the rice.
Old farm brick structures are used for their equipment storage, drying facilities and packaging distribution during the growing season. Most of these structures were built at the turn of the 19th century and are very picturesque, surrounded by rice and the other crops.Ambrogio Giovanni (www.risoandreone.it/en) showed us his drying facility, which took up huge corner of one of his farm structures. During harvest he would cut the rice after the dew lifted until 6 p.m. every day. Each day’s harvest fits into the dryer for 24 hours.By the time there was more rice to dry, the harvest from the day before would be processed and out of the dryer. Drying and packaging his own rice allowed him to label and distribute the rice to individual purchasers, farmers markets or restaurants in the area, keeping his cost down and profit high.

Giovanni also had the option to sell in quantity to wholesale companies to reach bigger markets if he desired.Birds were plentiful in the rice fields with storks, a black-faced ibis, great blue herons and white egrets. Our time in Italy was highlighted in our encounters with our new friends, the Italian rice growers. Hopefully, our new friends will one day take a tour of our rice fields in the Sacramento Valley.Mary Wurlitzer farms rice with her husband Brad in the Chico area. When traveling to various countries, the couple finds out if rice is grown and if so, they make it a point to visit that area. This year it was Italy in the Po Valley.

Image:Left to right, Brad and Mary Wurlitzer tour the farm of Italian rice grower Ambrogio Giovanni, during a recent visit to the Po Valley in northern Italy.
http://www.chicoer.com/general-news/20151113/butte-county-rice-farmers-learn-how-it-grows-in-italys-po-valley


Kangaroo rogan josh


The classic Indian curry, rogan josh, gets an Australian feel with the addition of kangaroo. But don't think it's purely a meaty affair! Chickpeas, tomato and spinach add a wholesome quality to the hearty dish. If you're running short on time, the rogan josh curry mix can be substitued with a good-quality supermarket paste. 

Instructions

Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add kangaroo in small batches and brown on both sides, set aside for later.To make the curry paste, heat the vegetable oil in a large sautĆ© pan over a low heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, stirring until well coated. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, until onion is very soft. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 5 minutes. Return browned kangaroo to the pan and pour over 1 cup water. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 1½ hours. Add the yoghurt, stirring until well combined, cook for a further 30 minutes.To finish, stir in chopped tomatoes, spinach, chickpeas, lemon juice and coriander, stirring until heated through.Serve the curry garnished with coriander leaves with basmati rice, papadums and naan bread.

Note
• If short on time, substitute the rogan josh curry mix with ¼ cup ready-made paste, available from supermarkets.

Recipe and photograhy from Gourmet Game.

Instructions

Description: http://www.sbs.com.au/food/sites/sbs.com.au.food/files/styles/full/public/kangaroo-curry.jpg?itok=cRr05uqa&mtime=1446791080Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add kangaroo in small batches and brown on both sides, set aside for later.To make the curry paste, heat the vegetable oil in a large sautĆ© pan over a low heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, stirring until well coated. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, until onion is very soft. Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 5 minutes. Return browned kangaroo to the pan and pour over 1 cup water. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 1½ hours. Add the yoghurt, stirring until well combined, cook for a further 30 minutes.To finish, stir in chopped tomatoes, spinach, chickpeas, lemon juice and coriander, stirring until heated through.Serve the curry garnished with coriander leaves with basmati rice, papadums and naan bread.

Note
• If short on time, substitute the rogan josh curry mix with ¼ cup ready-made paste, available from supermarkets.

Recipe and photograhy from Gourmet Game.

 

Deficient rains may push up rice prices: Assocham

Deccan Chronicle | November 16, 2015, 06.50 am IST

Description: Representational image
New Delhi: After pulses, rice prices may also shoot up and reach a “boiling point” in the coming months as stocks deplete due to deficient rains and fall in output, said industry body Assocham on Sunday. After pulses, onion and some edible oils like mustard oil, rice may cause pain if timely adequate safeguards are not taken, said the industry chamber.“Though the government estimates kharif rice production at 90.61 MMT, this  is  unlikely to be achieved due to severe deficit rains in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka and the best that could be achieved is 89 MMT,” it said. The study said that rice stocks have declined in last three years from 24.59 million tonnes in 2012 to 13.89 million tonnes (plus unlimited paddy 3.61 tonnes) in stocks at present.

“Increasing export outgo on account of PDS (Public Distribution System) and other welfare schemes will continue to weigh on availability in the open market.   Unless the government is able to handle the situation prudently, depleting stocks will soon reflect on the open market prices,” said Assocham. It said that given the huge domestic demand for rice, the government needs to closely monitor both prices and stock situation. Already a section of global exporting community is evaluating possibility of India entering international market for import of these commodities from 2017, if urgent steps are not taken to augment supplies, it said.“The consequences of deficient 2015 monsoon are likely to be far-reaching. Besides, slowing down the economy considerably and accentuating inflationary pressure coupled with shortages of essential food items across the country, it could also lead to dependence on import of essential food items.
 Already India is heavily short on vegetable oils and pulses and a recurring monsoon failure might push the country into a tight corner in respect of rice and sugar among others,” said Assocham.However, the report contradicts the current price trend in the market, where wholesale prices of non-basmati prices are ruling down at Rs 25 per kg as against Rs 30 per kg last year. Similarly, wholesale rates of premium basmati rice have declined sharply by about 30 per cent to Rs 44-45 per kg at present from Rs 62-65 per kg last season, as per traders.

Basmati rice and sugar stocks up on favourable fundamentals


Price moves up in physical markets, Iran to issue rice import licence; lower production estimates help sugar stocks
Dilip Kumar Jha  |  Mumbai November 16, 2015 Last Updated at 22:41 IST
Description: Basmati rice and sugar stocks up on favourable fundamentals 
Lifting of Iran sanctions boon for basmatiRice exporting companies rally as Iran opens up market for IndiaExporters expect Iran to issue fresh Basmati rice permits by DecBasmati rice exports to Iran via Dubai soar.Share prices of companies engaged in sugar production and basmati rice export rose sharply on Monday, on an increase in consumer demand.Basmati exporters are hoping for better days ahead on expectations that Iran, this country's largest importer, will soon start issuing licences in this regard. Sugar mills think their realisation will go up on lower domestic production.Among basmati shares, that of 'Dawat' brand producer LT Foods had the highest gain, of 14.7 per cent. Kohinoor Foods and KRBL reported a 13.9 per cent and 7.2 per cent surge in their shares, respectively.Shares of sugar mills rose up to 20 per cent, on expectation of less production this year, after a deficient monsoon. Mills' federation in Maharashtra, the country's largest producer, has forecast total output in the state at 8.6 million tonnes this year as against 10.5 mt last year.“Iran, which consumes over half of India’s annual basmati rice export, had halted issuing new import licences, resulting in a sharp decline in our export last year. It is expected that Iran would start issuing new licences in a week to 10 days,” said Satnam Arora, joint managing director of Kohinoor Foods.After a record 1.44 mt in 2013-14, around 38 per cent of India’s overall shipment, basmati export to Iran was 0.94 mt in 2014-15. Arora said basmati prices had risen at least 20 per cent in the past week on festival demand in India and a sharp jump abroad.As for sugar, rating agency ICRA has forecast a five per cent decline in output to 26.8 mt this year versus 28.2 mt last year. Indian Sugar Mills Association had lowered its forecast to 27 mt, due to the estimated fall in Maharashtra.

If the four mt of export approved by the central government comes through, the total closing stock is estimated at 7.6 mt in sugar year 2016 (ending September 2016), from nearly 10.1 mt in SY15. Prices have started moving up gradually in home markets.The industry is awaiting finalisation of the export subsidy to achieve the four mt target. Prices are falling in global markets and ICRA expects the losses through export to be nullified when the domestic sugar realisation rises an estimated three to five per cent during SY16, from the Rs 26,000 a tonne average for SY15.

Surplus domestic production, coupled with limited export, resulted in a steep decline in prices to a three-year low in July this year to Rs 23,000 a tonne, from Rs 29,000 a tonne in November 2014. With the government notifying export, domestic prices picked up to Rs 25,500 a tonne in September and to Rs 27,500 a tonne last month.


image: http://pixel.adsafeprotected.com/rfw/st/43236/6327988/skeleton.gif
Description: http://pixel.adsafeprotected.com/rfw/st/43236/6327988/skeleton.gif 
Press Release | Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:56am EST

Amira Nature Foods Ltd Announces New Distribution Win in Northeast United States

Amira Nature Foods Ltd Announces New Distribution Win in Northeast United States
Amira Branded Products Available in Price Chopper, Inc., a Leading Supermarket with More Than 130 Locations

Description: Basmati rice and sugar stocks up on favourable fundamentalsAmira Nature Foods Ltd (NYSE: ANFI), a leading global provider of branded packaged Indian specialty rice, announced today that its Amira branded products are available in Price Chopper stores.Headquartered in Schenectady, New York, Price Chopper operates more than 130 stores in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. The Golub Corporation, parent company of Price Chopper, dates back to the 1900s and is one of the largest privately held corporations in the United States that is predominantly employee owned.

“We are excited to expand our distribution in the United States with the addition of Price Chopper supermarkets,” said Karan A Chanana, Chairman of Amira Nature Foods Ltd. “We are working to expand the Amira brand across the country, and the addition of Price Chopper with its focus on customer engagement, health and wellness and environmental sustainability is a perfect fit for our Amira branded 'better-for-you' rice products.”

About Amira Nature Foods Ltd
Founded in 1915, Amira has evolved into a leading global provider of branded packaged Indian specialty rice and other products, with sales in over 60 countries today. The Company primarily sells Basmati rice, which is a premium long-grain rice grown only in certain regions of the Indian sub-continent, under its flagship Amira brand as well as under other third party brands. Amira sells its products through a broad distribution network in both the developed and emerging markets. The Company’s global headquarters are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and it also has offices in India, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Amira Nature Foods Ltd is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol “ANFI.”

For more information, please visit www.amira.net

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “except,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “future” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our goals and strategies; our expansion plans; and our future business development.

We would like to caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and you should read these statements in conjunction with the risk factors disclosed in “Risk Factors” appearing in our Annual Report on Form 20-F as well as our other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those risks are not exhaustive and reflect our expectations as of the date of this press release.

 We operate in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law.
/www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/16/ny-amira-nature-foods-idUSnBw165838a+100+BSW20151116#WzJXOj44Oy8pTScR.99


APEDA Rice Commodity News


International Benchmark Price
Price on: 13-11-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Apricots
1
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4875
2
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4375
3
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
3625
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
791
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
524
Honey
1
Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2860
2
Argentine 50mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2970
3
Argentine 34mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
3080
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 14-11-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Maize
1
Gadag (Karnataka)
Local
950
1439
2
Dahod (Gujarat)
Yellow
1400
1470
3
Khargone (Madhya Pradesh)
Other 
1151
1352
Paddy(Dhan)
1
Kasargod (Kerala)
Other
1700
1800
2
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
1410
1500
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Common
995
1015
Mousambi
1
Jagraon (Punjab)
Other
2400
3000
2
Sirsa (Haryana)
Other
3200
3200
3
Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Other
1500
2800
Carrot
1
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
1000
2000
2
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
1400
1800
3
Kattappana (Kerala)
Other
4400
4700
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 14-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
388
2
Chittoor
371
3
Hyderabad
350
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 13-11-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Russet
17
17.75
2
Chicago
Idaho
Russet
13
16
3
Dallas
Idaho
Russet
12
12
Cabbage
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Georgia
Round Green Type
12.50
13
2
Dallas
Colorado
Round Green Type
11.50
11.50
3
Miami
Canada
Round Green Type
13.50
14
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Virginia 
Red Delicious
26
28
2
Dallas
Washington
Red Delicious
24
24
3
New York
Pennsylvania 
Red Delicious
25
25
Source:USDA

PH to miss 2015 rice output target, expects modest rise in Q1 2016

Posted at 11/16/15 3:24 PM
MANILA - The Philippines said it expects its unmilled rice output in the first quarter of 2016 to grow a modest 0.31 percent from a year earlier to 4.38 million tonnes, while anticipating this year's production to be below forecast due to bad weather.Paddy harvest this year is forecast to reach 18.3 million tonnes, 3.54 percent lower versus last year's record high output and below a target of 20 million tonnes, hurt by the El Nino dry weather and a series of typhoons, the Philippine Statistics Authority said in a report released on Monday.The Southeast Asian nation, one of the world's biggest importers of the grain, is looking to buy another 1.3 million tonnes of rice to boost buffer stock, on top of the 500,000 tonnes already purchased and scheduled for delivery between January and March.

https://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/11/16/15/ph-to-miss-2015-rice-output-target-expects-modest-rise-in-q1-2016

 

Farmers troubled by good rice harvest


By Yoon Ja-young
A good harvest is the dream of every farmer, but it doesn't seem to be working out that way with farmers in Korea. Concern is increasing among farmers as rice production hits a six-year high thanks to good weather.According to Statistics Korea, rice production totaled 4.33 million tons this year, which is up 2 percent compared with last year and the biggest since 2009.However, farmers aren't happy. Rice is currently trading at around 140,000 won per 80 kilograms at paddies, dropping 10 percent down from the last year.The country's rice paddies have been decreasing as more paddies are redeveloped for housing or farmers switch to other crops.
 The country's rice paddies totaled 799,000 hectares this year, down 2 percent from last year and dropping more than 10 percent compared with a decade ago.Rice consumption, however, contracted even further. Koreans consumed on average 65.1 kilograms of rice last year, down 19.3 percent from 2005. More people are turning to other crops as well as increasing bread, noodles and meat in their diet.As a result, the rick stock is piling up, incurring huge costs. The country is expected to have 1.35 million tons of rice in stock this year. According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), it costs 31.6 billion won a year to keep 100,000 tons of rice in stock. This includes storage and financial costs as well as the fall in the value of rice.
The government has been focusing on promoting rice consumption, developing diverse processed food products using rice.

Some suggest giving rice to North Korea or other underdeveloped countries as a solution.In 2003, for instance, Seoul sent 400,000 tons of rice to North Korea. Rice stock fell from 1.45 million tons to 924,000 tons the following year. The country could maintain the rice in stock at between 600,000 and 800,000 tons for the next few years by continuing the donation.Kim Tae-hun, a KREI researcher, said the government could consider this as an option. "The offering of rice to North Korea has been determined by the political situation," he said. "As relations improve between the two countries, there is the possibility that North Korea may demand support anytime when the time is ripe."He said the government should set a fundamental solution to deal with the rice surplus. "On the supply side, the government should reconsider policies that trigger production of rice," he said. "The policies to promote rice consumption, on the other hand, should continue from a mid- to long-term perspective."

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2015/11/123_191052.html



El NiƱo, Lando to cut 2015 palay output by 3.54%


by BusinessMirror - November 16, 2015
Paddy-rice output for 2015 could settle at 18.3 million metric tons (MMT), 3.54 percent lower than the 18.97 MMT produced last year, according to the latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).The PSA attributed this to the drought caused by El NiƱo and the damage caused by Typhoon Lando (international code name Koppu) in top rice-producing provinces in the country.“Harvest area may contract by 1.58 percent to 4.66 million hectares this year, from 4.74 million hectares last year. Yield per hectare may drop by 1.99 percent to 3.92 metric tons (MT) this year, from 4 MT,” the report read.

Aside from El NiƱo, the PSA said the typhoons Egay (international code name Linfa) and Ineng (international code name Goni) had also made it difficult for farmers to increase palay output. The two typhoons hit the country in the third quarter of the year.“Furthermore, the damages brought by Lando on standing palay and corn crops may reduce the expected output for the fourth quarter,” the report read.The PSA said palay production in the second half of the year could go down by 5.81 percent to 9.97 MMT, from 10.59 MMT recorded last year. Harvest area may contract to 2.6 million hectares from 2.64 million hectares, or by 1.51 percent, while yield per hectare may decline by 4.37 percent to 3.83 MT from 4.01 MT.“All other regions, aside from the Bicol region, reported reductions in production and harvest area.

These were attributed to unrealized plantings as a result of delayed release and inadequate irrigation water, late occurrence of rains and some areas left in-fallow,” the report read.In the fourth quarter alone, the PSA said palay output could decline by 1.84 percent to 7.42 MMT, from 7.56 MMT last year. The PSA attributed this to the prolonged dry spell and the damages caused by the typhoons.In the first quarter of 2016, the PSA said output would recover based on farmers’ planting intentions. Paddy-rice production is expected to go up by 0.31 percent to 4.38 MMT, from 4.37 MMT recorded in January to March 2015.Meanwhile, the PSA said corn production for 2015 could go down by 2.8 percent to 7.55 MMT, from 7.77 MMT last year. In the second half of the year alone, corn output is projected to decline by 2.76 percent to 4.17 MMT, from 4.29 MMT recorded in July to December 2014.Corn production in January to March 2016 is projected to increase by 0.48 percent to 2.38 MMT, from 2.37 MMT posted in the first quarter of this year.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/el-nino-lando-to-cut-2015-palay-output-by-3-54/


Q3 PALAY OUTPUT CONTRACTS 16%


November 16, 2015
Palay production dropped 16 percent during the third quarter of the year, stalling agriculture growth to minimal 0.04 percent. Agricultural production rose by only 0.65 percent for the first nine months of the year.Lower output resulted from the intense heat brought about by the El Nino weather phenomenon and the damage wrought by two typhoons. Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that country’s agriculture sector in the third quarter only grossed P336 billion at current prices, 3.23 percent lower than last year’s P347  billion.

The crops subsector which contributed 44.54 percent to the total agricultural production declined by 4.86 percent during the period mainly because of palay output at 2.6 million metric tons (MT) which is 15.71 percent lower and corn output at 2.4 million MT, a 1.70 percent drop in the third quarter. At current prices, the subsector reached P172.4 billion decreasing by 8.09 percent from last year’s record and a 1.69 percent drop for the first nine months of the year. The livestock subsector which shared 18.45 percent in total agricultural production meanwhile  grew by 3.25 percent as all its components posted increases with hog as the major contributor growing at 3.76 percent. Gross value of production amounted to P58.5 billion at current prices or 0.74 percent higher from last year and a 3.92 percent growth in three quarters of the year. Production in the poultry subsector also expanded by 8.76 percent which contributed 17.23 percent to the agricultural gross output.

Production of chicken meat grew by 8.77 percent and chicken eggs by 9.91 percent. Gross value amounted to P47.4 billion at current prices, up by 2.59 percent this year and a 6.32 percent increase for the first nine months of the year. Fisheries also managed to grow by 1.80 percent in the third quarter as it contributed 19.78 percent to total agricultural production. Growth were recorded for milkfish, tilapia, tiger prawn, skipjack, yellowfin tuna and seaweed which propelled the subsector to gross P57.7 billion at current prices, a 4.18 percent improvement from last year’s performance. Gross value of production of fisheries for January to September 2015 however is still down by 0.36 percent. Average farmgate prices went down by 3.27 percent during the third quarter and 4.27 percent lower for the first nine months. Prices were lower for crops at 3.39 percent, livestock at 2.43 percent and poultry at 5.67 percent. Fisheries was the only subsector to realize an improvement in the quarter as it went up by 2.33 percent.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/q3-palay-output-contracts-16



Govt strengthens prevention of commodity price fixing 

 

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Mon, November 16 2015, 5:31 PM
The government has reiterated its commitment to increasing market monitoring to manage prices of staple commodities, including beef and rice, by eradicating price-fixing practices.Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) head Syarkawi Rauf said President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had asked the commission to focus on the monitoring of beef and rice.Syarkawi said the commission had identified five to seven major players in national rice production in 11 provinces, including Central Java and North Sumatra, as the players could possibly dictate the price of rice in the market.“We will continue to monitor them. If they do anything that indicates anti-competitive practices, we will take necessary action,” Syarkawi told reporters late last week.

He further explained that with the limited number of players, it would be easy for price fixing to occur. He said the commission would impose sanctions on unlawful players, if found guilty, ranging from administrative punishment to recommending that their permits be revoked.The price and scarcity of rice as Indonesia’s main staple food has been a major concern this year following decreasing rice stocks owing to the prolonged season as a result of the El NiƱo weather phenomenon.The government has been struggling to secure the country’s stocks, which continue to run low, partially through imports, as Vice President Jusuf Kalla confirmed that more than 1 million tons of rice from Thailand and Vietnam had begun entering Indonesian ports.Kalla expressed concern for the possibility of inflated prices with the late harvest, and that the country needed to secure enough stocks to survive, with a vacuum to fill around 2.5 million tons.Rice prices rose by more than 30 percent in February this year.

The government attributed the abnormal price movement partially to the “rice mafia”.The government has appointed independent firm PT Sucofindo to audit at least 14,000 warehouses nationwide amid suspicion of illegal stockpiling and reselling.Warehouse owners found guilty of illegal stockpiling could face up to five years’ imprisonment and fines of Rp 50 billion (US$3.70 million).Jokowi previously insisted that stocks, though running low, remained adequate, as he aimed for the country to be self-sufficient in key commodities such as rice, corn, soybeans and sugar.Meanwhile, Syarkawi also said that the commission had tried 32 feedlotters allegedly involved in cartel-like practices last month that contributed to soaring beef prices, which at one point rose to Rp 130,000 per kilogram from the usual Rp 90,000 after Idul Fitri.

 He said the feedlotters were found to have reduced the supply of cattle to be slaughtered from 30 head of cattle daily to eight head of cattle, leading to scarcity.“This is where KPPU steps in to investigate the cartel-like practice on beef,” Syarkawi said.Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday with the local governments of six provinces, including Jakarta, West Nusa Tenggara, East Java and South Sulawesi, through which the leaders agreed to cooperate in securing and monitoring the supply of staple commodities, including rice, beef and corn.

In its first phase, the MoU will focus on securing the supply of beef in Jakarta, which needed 60,000 head of cattle per month, according to Amran, from the other five provinces. The ministry would use the new livestock vessel recently officiated by the President to transport as many as 500 head of cattle to Jakarta, said Amran. (fsu)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/11/16/govt-strengthens-prevention-commodity-price-fixing.html#sthash.hqd0VOMU.dpuf

Thailand to start sale of 2 mln T of spoiled rice this month


BANGKOK
Nov 16 Thailand's military government will begin auctioning 2 million tonnes of rotten rice by the end of this month, looking to offload stockpiles of the staple grain built up under a previous support scheme for farmers.Thailand, the world's second biggest rice exporter after India, is holding about 13 million tonnes of rice bought at higher-than-market prices to help farmers, a scheme that cost the previous government billions of dollars.Some 2 million tonnes of the stored rice that has been judged unfit for human or animal consumption is to be auctioned away for such industrial uses as producing ethanol.

"Within this week the foreign trade department at the ministry will announce the terms for selling the ruined rice," said Chutima Bunyapraphasara, the commerce ministry's permanent secretary.It will be the first time rotten rice has been sold from Thailand's stockpiles strictly for industrial uses.Of the 13 million tonnes of rice Thailand still holds in its state warehouses, around half, or 6 million tonnes, is "below-standard or rotten", said a commerce ministry statement.The commerce ministry plans to start this month's auction in lots of between 1,000 and 6,000 tonnes, Chutima told reporters, with interested buyers able to inspect the stocks and submit their bids by the end of the month.

Analysts have said the rotten rice would be sold for far less than edible stocks.Since Thailand's military government took power in 2014, it has auctioned off 5 million tonnes of rice through several tenders, with sales worth about 5.2 billion baht ($145 million), the commerce ministry said.Thailand accounts for about a quarter of the global rice trade and so far this year has exported around 8 million tonnes, earning the country around 127 billion baht ($3.5 billion).Thailand's goal to export 10 million tonnes of rice this year to regain its crown as top exporter will likely not be met, said the commerce ministry.India was the top rice exporter in 2014, eclipsing Thailand after its multi-billion dollar subsidy scheme led to a massive build-up of rice in storage.

($1 = 35.98 baht) (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Tom Hogue)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/11/16/thailand-rice-idUKL3N13B2VJ20151116

Annual rice imports of 1.1m tons required in Iran: official
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Tehran Times Economic Desk
TEHRAN- Iran needs to imports 1.1 million tons of rice per annum, according to Iranian Deputy Agriculture Minister for Planning and Economic Affairs Abdolmahdi Bakhshandeh. Over three million tons of rice is consumed in Iran per year, of which about two million tons is produced inside the country and the rest is imported, the Mehr News Agency quoted Bakhshandeh as saying on Saturday. Also, near 300,000 tons of rice is annually imported by Government Trading Corporation of Iran (G.T.C) in order to maintain the country’s strategic reserves of the product, the official added. Iran’s annual cereal production is estimated to rise to 19.8 million tons in 2015 from 19.1 million tons in 2014, according to a report released by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in May.   
The report forecasts Iran’s annual wheat production will increase to 13.5 million tons this year from 13 million tons the year before.   On April 18, Bakhshandeh said Iran’s agricultural exports in the previous Iranian calendar year (which ended on March 20) rose by 27 percent compared to its preceding year.   Meanwhile, agricultural imports amounted to $12 billion, a 9 percent fall compared to its preceding year.    Iranian Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati has said that by producing over 90 million tons of agricultural products per year, Iran is among ten top countries in the world.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=250844

Second-crop farmers given govt warnings


Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation November 16, 2015 1:00 am
2'No dam water for rice grown out of season'

Description: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/2015/11/16/national/images/30272999-02_big.jpgTHE Royal Irrigation Department has issued written warnings to farmers who illegally pump water from public waterways into their paddy fields - a move that reflects the severity of imminent water shortage. "Their action is against the law. They may face legal penalties. But for now, we have decided to warn them first," the department's director-general Suthep Noipairoj said a few days ago.He was referring to the 190,000 rai of paddy fields now engaged in a second round of rice planting this year."We have limited water supply," Suthep emphasised.
As of November 1, four major dams for the Chao Phraya River basin had just 4.247 billion cubic metres of disposable water. The amount was far below the over 6 billion cubic metres at the start of the dry season last year. In Thailand, the dry season officially runs from November 1 to April 30.The country usually relies on rainfall during the wet season in storing water for use in the dry months. However, water shortages have seriously affected the Chao Phraya River basin during the rainy season this year.That is why authorities are now being strict about water-allocation.Suthep said all sides must comply with the water-allocation plan for the Chao Phraya River basin, otherwise the imminent drought could pose a serious threat."All sectors must collaborate in saving water in a serious manner," Suthep said.His department has been closely monitoring the water situation. Inflows into the four major dams have reached about 15.6 million cubic metres a day, while usage totals 15.55 million cubic metres."When it comes to the agricultural sector, our focus is now on irrigating water for the fields of rice farmers who are working on their farmland for the first time this year," he said.
The Irrigation Department head said there were now about 1.33 million rai of such paddy fields in the Central region. These fields belong to farmers who agreed to the government's plea to delay work on their fields. They are expected to collect their harvest later this month.Suthep said the limited water supply meant his department would not be able to ensure adequate water for paddy fields growing rice outside the farming season.As soon as the department found that some rice farmers in areas north of the Chao Phraya Dam had pumped water into second-season paddy fields, it issued written warnings."Farmers should not forget that we need to allocate water for consumption and ecological systems too," Suthep explained.He complained that even though officials had warned about the imminent water shortage for months, many farmers had begun work on paddy fields outside the farming season."They in fact should be cautious about water sources in their areas, and determine if there will be enough for their paddy fields," he said.Suthep said very few farmers had opted for alternative crops lately, despite recommendations from various bodies, including the Agriculture Ministry that sent its officials to local fields.

www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Second-crop-farmers-given-govt-warnings-30272999.html

17th September,2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

India Rice Export Earnings Decline Sharply in First Six Months of FY 2015-16 Despite Increase in Tonnage

Nov 16, 2015

India's rice export earnings have declined to around $3.17 billion in the first six months of FY 2015-16 (April - September), down about 17% from around $3.8 billion during the same period in FY 2014-15, according to data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
The earnings have declined despite an increase in export tonnage by about 5% to around 5.53 million tons in the six-month period from around 5.27 million tons last year due to a sharp decline in average export prices, according to the APEDA. Average basmati rice export prices declined by about 35% to around $920 per ton during the six-month period from around $1,406 per ton last year. On the other hand, average non-basmati rice prices declined to around $364 per ton in April-September 2015 period from around $415 per ton last year.
India exported around 2.08 million tons of basmati rice in April-September 2015 period, up about 27% from around 1.64 million tons exported during the same period last year. The sub-continent exported around 3.44 million tons of non-basmati rice in the six-month period, down about 5% from around 3.64 million tons last year. The decline in non-basmati rice exports can be attributed to a stiff competition with Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan.
Earnings from basmati rice exports have declined to around $1.9 billion in April-September 2015 period from around $2.3 billion during the same period last year. Earnings from non-basmati rice exports have declined to around $1.25 billion in April-September 2015 period from around $1.51 billion during the same period last year.

Asia Rice Quotes Mixed Today

Nov 16, 2015

Thailand rice sellers have lowered their quotes for 100% B, 5% broken rice, fragrant A1 Super rice, parboiled rice and glutinous rice varieties by $5 per ton to around $360 - $370 per ton, $350 - $360 per ton, $335 - $345 per ton, $350 - $360 per ton and $705 - $715 per ton today. Vietnam rice sellers increased their quotes for 15% broken rice variety and jasmine rice by about $5 per ton to around $365 - $375 per ton and $465 - $475 per ton today. They lowered their quotes for 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton to around $330 - $340 per ton. India rice sellers lowered their quotes for parboiled rice by about $5 per ton to around $335 - $345 per ton. Other rice quotes remain unchanged today.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $350 - $360 per ton about $20 per ton discount on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $370 - $380 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $30 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $315 - $325 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $10 per ton discount on Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $355- $365 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $35 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $290 - $300 per ton.
Parboiled Rice            
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $350 - $360 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $335 - $345 per ton, about $70 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.     
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $5 per ton discount to Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $330 - $340 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $285 - $295 per ton, about $5 per ton premium on Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $280 - $290 per ton.

Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Continue to Tumble as Market Faces Slack Demand

Nov 17, 2015

Chicago rough rice futures for Jan delivery settled 30.5 cents per cwt (about $5 per ton) lower at $11.840 per cwt (about $261 per ton). The other grains finished the day with mixed results; Soybeans closed about 0.5% higher at $8.5950 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.5% lower at $4.9550 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.3% higher at $3.6675 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded higher Monday, helped by some gains in defensive sectors, following terror attacks in Paris over the weekend. European stocks held mostly higher after a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris late Friday left more than a 100 dead and hundreds injured. The Islamist militant group that calls itself "Islamic State" (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attacks. France responded over the weekend by launching air strikes against IS targets in Syria. On Friday, U.S. stocks closed more than 1% lower to post their worst week since August, pressured by a continued decline in oil prices and soft reports on the health of the consumer. No other major economic data is due Monday. The key report for the week is the Federal Reserve meeting minutes due out Wednesday. Overnight, Asian stocks closed mostly lower, with tourism-related names among the worst performers as the Paris attacks weighed on sentiment. The Hang Seng and Nikkei both closed down more than 1%, while the Shanghai composite ended about 0.7% higher. Japanese government data released overnight showed the world's third-largest economy shrank for a second consecutive quarter, a technical recession. In early afternoon trade, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 147 points, or 0.86%, to 17,391. The S&P 500 gained 16 points, or 0.83%, to 2,039, with energy leading all sectors higher. The Nasdaq traded up 20 points, or 0.41%, to 4,947. Gold is seen trading about 0.1% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 3% higher, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.4% higher about  1:15pm Chicago time.
Friday, there were 985 contracts traded, up from 656 contracts traded on Thursday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Friday decreased by 30 contracts to 12,413.

Thailand to Begin Sale of Rotten Rice Stocks from End of November 2015

Nov 16, 2015

The government of Thailand is to begin sale of about 2 million tons of rotten rice from stockpiles from the end of November 2015, according to Reuters.
"Within this week the foreign trade department at the ministry will announce the terms for selling the ruined rice," the Commerce Ministry's Permanent Secretary was quoted.
The Ministry is planning to begin the auctions in lots of between 1,000 and 6,000 tons, according to the official. Interested buyers can reportedly inspect the stocks and submit their bids by the end of this month.
Thailand holds about 13 million tons of rice stocks, of which about 6 million tons are "below-standard or rotten" and are judged unfit for human consumption, according to a Commerce Ministry statement. These stocks would be sold for industrial uses as ethanol production.
Analysts are expecting that the rotten stocks would fetch lesser price than the edible stocks.
The government of Thailand sold around 4.6 million tons of stockpiled rice raising around 49 billion baht (around $1.4 billion) in the ten auctions conducted since it took over in May 2014.
The official also noted that the 2015 rice exports would reach 9 million tons, down from the targeted 10 million tons. She told reporters that it will sign import contract with Indonesia to sell 500,000 tons, with delivery beginning by the end of this year. She also noted that the government will sign a contract to sell one million tons of rice to China next year.




Indian Industry Group Warns of Higher Domestic Rice Prices Ahead on Low Output, Falling Stocks

Nov 16, 2015

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has warned that domestic prices of rice may increase sharply in the coming months due to a likely lower output from the 2015 kharif rice crop as well as declining stocks in the Central pool, according to a news release on the ASSOCHAM website.
In the paper, "Impact of weak/deficient monsoon agricultural production and prices," the ASSOCHAM states that India's rice production from the current kharif crop is likely to be as low as 89 million tons (basis, milled) though the government expects the production to reach about 90.61 million tons due to severe deficit rains in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Maharashtra and Karnataka. 
It also states that rice stocks with the government have been steadily declining for the past three years. Stocks have declined from around 24.59 million tons in 2012 to the current 17.5 million tons (including unmilled paddy of 3.61 million tons). 
Releasing the paper, the Secretary General of ASSOCHAM warned that the annual demand of rice for both exports, public distribution system (PDS), other welfare schemes locally is increasing and the situation may lead to less availability in the open market thereby pushing up the prices. He therefore warned the government to closely to monitor both stocks and prices.
The paper also suggests that the government should encourage the direct seeded rice (DSR) method of paddy cultivation to conserve water. Currently, only 10% of the country's paddy cultivation is under DSR due to limitations in the availability of suitable equipment for DSR in clay soils, says the study.
According to government data, India's average domestic rice prices have increased in November 2015 despite increasing supplies from the on-going kharif rice crop. They stood at around Rs.2,779 per quintal, up about 7% from around Rs.2,589 per quintal in October 2015, and up about 6% from their year-ago levels of around Rs.2,611 per quintal.

Philippines 2015 Paddy Rice Output to Decline 3.54% to 18.3 Million Tons, Says PSA

Nov 16, 2015

The Philippines 2015 paddy rice output is likely to reach around 18.3 million tons, down about 3.54% from around 18.97 million tons in 2014, due to extending dry weather conditions brought about by the El Nino phenomenon and a series of typhoons, Reuters quoted a report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The agency estimates the country's 2015 fourth quarter paddy output to decline about 1.84% y/y to around 7.42 million tons. Paddy production in the first nine months of 2015 has reached around 10.875 million tons, down about 4.7% from around 11.407 million tons produced during the same period last year, according to the PSA.
The expected paddy output at around 18.3 million tons is about 9% below the targeted 20.08 million tons for the year.
However, the PSA is forecasting paddy output in the first quarter of 2016 to improve and reach about  4.38 million tons, up about 0.31% from around 4.36 million tons in 2014.
The government, which has already approved imports of around 500,000 tons for the first quarter of 2016, is planning to import another 1.3 million tons before the end of the second quarter.

Indonesia Domestic Rice Prices Reach Record High in October 2015 on Concerns of Low Output, Stocks, Says FAO

Nov 16, 2015
Average prices of medium quality rice in Indonesia have reached to record Rp 10.414 million (around $750) per ton on concerns of lower paddy output this year and consequent lower stocks, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Increase in prices can also attributed to the slow planting progress of the 2015-16 main season crop (September – April), which started in October and continues till December 2015. Planting has been reportedly delayed due to below-average rains in early October. The final outcome of the 2016 rice harvest will largely depend on the availability of water supplies for irrigation for the current main and forthcoming off-season, as approximately 85% of total rice area is irrigated, says the FAO.
Meanwhile, harvesting of the 2015 off-season crop (mid-March – mid-October) will continue till December. Prolonged dry weather between May and September in many rice-growing areas have reportedly delayed planting operations and caused yield reductions. The FAO forecasts 2015 aggregate paddy production at around 73 million tons, down about 2.6 million tons from its previous forecast. But the estimated production is about 3% higher than the 70.846 million tons produced in 2014. The increase is attributed to the record 2015 main harvest, gathered earlier in the year.
The FAO forecasts 2015-16 (April - March) rice imports at around 1.3 million tons due to uncertainty over the output of the 2016 main season crop.
Global Rice Quotes
November 17th, 2015
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade          360-370           ↔
Vietnam 5% broken    370-380           ↔
India 5% broken         345-355           ↔
Pakistan 5% broken    315-325           ↔
Myanmar 5% broken   405-415           ↔
Cambodia 5% broken             415-425           ↔
U.S. 4% broken           490-510           ↔
Uruguay 5% broken    535-545           ↔
Argentina 5% broken 530-540           ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken 345-355           ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 355-365           ↔
Pakistan 25% broken 290-300           ↔
Cambodia 25% broken           400-410           ↔
India 25% broken       325-335           ↔
U.S. 15% broken         500-510           ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd            350-360           ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd    405-415           ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd         335-345           ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken       590-610           ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken    545-555           ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken            NQ      ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92%          725-735           ↓
Vietnam Jasmine         450-460           ↓
India basmati 2% broken        NQ      ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken   NQ      ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails             830-840           ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super      325-335           ↔
Vietnam 100% broken            330-340           ↔
Pakistan 100% broken stxd    280-290           ↔
Cambodia A1 Super   355-365           ↔
India 100% broken stxd         285-295           ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ      ↔
U.S. pet food 330-340           ↔
Brazil half grain          NQ      ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com



News ares shared with written permission of ORYZA.com with Thanks

Monday, November 16, 2015

16th November,2015 Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

USDA Post Forecasts Egypt's MY 2015-16 Rice Exports to Increase Sharply on Temporary Resumption of Exports

Nov 13, 2015
USDA Post forecasts Egypt's MY 2015-16 (May - April) rice exports at around 400,000 tons, up about 60% from an estimated 250,000 tons in MY 2014-15, and unchanged from USDA's official estimates. The increase is due to the government's resumption of milled rice exports for six months effective October 4, 2015.
However, the government requires exporters to pay an export fee of $255.43 per ton in foreign currency that is exchangeable through a bank operating in Egypt. The Post reports that the announcement resulted in an increase of rice price to around $270 per ton compared to around $200 per ton before the announcement. The government's decision has meanwhile increased the activity of the rice millers in the country, which had ceased as farmers withheld their stocks due to lower prices.
The Post expects the bulk of the Egyptian rice exports to materialize between December 2015 to March 2016 as market prices of Egyptian medium grain "sticky" rice are likely to be more competitive in the international market.
USDA Post estimates Egypt's MY 2015-16 paddy production at around 5.797 million tons, down from an estimated 6.565 million tons in MY 2014-15 and unchanged from USDA's official estimates. The decline is due to higher-than-normal temperatures during August, which led to a reduction in grain weight.
EFSA Sets New Toxicological Safety Thresholds for Use of Glyphosate in EU Member States
Nov 13, 2015
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the EU member states have finalized the norms for re-assessment of glyphosate, a chemical that is used widely in pesticides, according to a news release on the EFSA website.
Following extensive assessment of new studies and data, the EFSA and the EU member states have come up with a report stating that glyphosate does not pose a carcinogenic threat to humans. They noted in the report that glyphosate may not be classified as carcinogenic under the EU regulation for classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances. The review group reportedly reached the conclusion after considering several evidences, including a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans.
The group proposed an acute reference dose (ARfD) for glyphosate of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight. It also proposed other toxicological safety thresholds to guide risk assessors. It set the acceptable operator exposure level (AOEL) at 0.1 mg/kg body weight per day and the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for consumers at 0.5 mg/kg body weight per day.The report and the new limits can now be used by the EC to decide whether or not to retain glyphosate on the EU’s list of approved active substances. It can be used by the EU member states to allow its use in pesticides.
 “This has been an exhaustive process – a full assessment that has taken into account a wealth of new studies and data. By introducing an acute reference dose we are further tightening the way potential risks from glyphosate will be assessed in the future. Regarding carcinogenicity, it is unlikely that this substance is carcinogenic,” said the Head of EFSA's Pesticides Unit."EFSA will use the new toxicological values during its review of the maximum residue levels for glyphosate in food, which will be carried out in cooperation with Member States in 2016," he added.

Bangladesh to Increase Import Duty on Rice Shortly, Says Food Minister

Nov 13, 2015
The government of Bangladesh is planning to increase the import duty on rice imports from the current 10% to curb surging imports, especially from India, local sources, quoted the Food Minister.Following a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee, the Minister told local sources that new rate would be announced in a couple of days.
"Indian rice has already arrived in the market because of a delay in raising the duty," he was quoted. He noted that farmers would be harmed if duty is not increased. Restriction of imports is said to be necessary to protect local prices during the Aman harvest, which will begin shortly.The Bangladesh government imposed a duty of 10% on rice imports in May 2015 after rice imports by private traders surged significantly due to low global prices. Bangladesh traders imported over 1.4 million tons of rice in FY 2014-15 (July - June) compared to only 374,560 tons imported in the whole year of 2013-14.
USDA estimates Bangladesh’s MY 2015-16 (July 2015 – June 2016) milled rice production at around 34.6 million tons, slightly up from an estimated 34.5 million tons in MY 2014-15. It estimates Bangladesh to import around 1.2 million tons of rice in MY 2014-15 and about 600,000 tons in MY 2015-16. 

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Prices Dip after USDA Reports Dismal Export Sales

Nov 14, 2015
The U.S. cash market was weaker today with limited trading occurring after the USDA reported dismal export sales for the week.Cumulative net export sales for the week that ended on November 5 totaled 35,700 tons, a decrease of 56% from the previous week and 55% lower than the prior 4-week average.Increases were reported for the following destinations: 15,700 tons to Japan, 11,000 tons to Taiwan, 3,000 tons to New Guinea, 2,100 tons to El Salvador, and 2,100 tons to Canada, while a reduction of 500 tons was reported for Yemen.
U.S. rice exporters shipped 34,200 tons, a decrease of 25% from the previous week and 47% lower than the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for the following destinations: 16,100 tons to Japan, 4,200 tons to El Salvador, 4,000 tons to Mexico, 3,500 tons to Canada, and 3,000 tons to New Guinea.

Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Slide as Commodities Come Under Pressure

Nov 14, 2015
Chicago rough rice futures for Jan delivery settled 21.5 cents per cwt (about $5 per ton) lower at $12.145 per cwt (about $268 per ton). The other grains finished the day lower as well; Soybeans closed about 0.9% lower at $8.5525 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.5% lower at $4.9775 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 1.1% lower at $3.6550 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded more than 1% lower Friday, pressured by a continued decline in oil prices and soft reports on the health of the consumer. The major averages are down more than 3% for the week so far, on pace to break a 6-week win streak. October retail sales showed an increase of 0.1%, below expectations of a 0.3% rise. Retail sales excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services rose 0.2% after an upwardly revised 0.1% gain in September. In another sign of little inflation, the producer price index for October fell 0.4%, after falling 0.5% the previous month.
The preliminary read on November consumer sentiment hit 93.1, topping expectations. In afternoon trade, the Dow Jones industrial average declined 199 points, or 1.14%, to 17,250. The S&P 500 declined 22 points, or 1.11%, to 2,023, with consumer discretionary leading nine sectors lower and materials the only advancer. The Nasdaq composite fell 71 points, or 1.4%, to 4,934. Gold is seen trading about 0.1% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 2.4% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.3% higher about  3:00pm Chicago time.Thursday, there were 656 contracts traded, down from 680 contracts traded on Wednesday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Thursday decreased by 75 contracts to 12,443.
Global Rice Quotes
November 13th, 2015
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade   365-375                ↔
Vietnam 5% broken        370-380                ↔
India 5% broken               345-355                ↔
Pakistan 5% broken        315-325                ↔
Myanmar 5% broken      405-415                ↔
Cambodia 5% broken     415-425                ↔
U.S. 4% broken                 490-510                ↔
Uruguay 5% broken        535-545                ↔
Argentina 5% broken     530-540                ↔

Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken      345-355                ↔
Vietnam 25% broken      355-365                ↔
Pakistan 25% broken      290-300                ↔
Cambodia 25% broken   400-410                ↔
India 25% broken             325-335                ↔
U.S. 15% broken               500-510                ↔

Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd     355-365                ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd          405-415                ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd                 340-350                ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken             590-610                ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken          545-555                ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken    NQ         ↔

Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92%   785-795                ↔
Vietnam Jasmine             460-470                ↓
India basmati 2% broken              NQ         ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken       NQ         ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails     830-840                ↔

Brokens
Thailand A1 Super            325-335                ↔
Vietnam 100% broken   335-345                ↑
Pakistan 100% broken stxd          280-290                ↔
Cambodia A1 Super        355-365                ↔
India 100% broken stxd                 285-295                ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens      NQ         ↔
U.S. pet food     330-340                ↔
Brazil half grain NQ         ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com

Oryza Weekly: Demand from Indonesia, Philippines Continues to Support Global Rice Export Quotes

Nov 14, 2015
The Oryza White Rice Index (WRI), a weighted average of global white rice export quotes, ended the week at $394 per ton, up $1 per ton from a week ago and a month ago and down $57 per ton from a year ago.
Global rice export quotes increased or remained stable during the week due to increasing demand. However, domestic rice prices in most of the countries declined due to increasing supplies from ongoing harvests.
Thailand
Thailand 5% broken rice is today shown at about $360 per ton, up about $5 per ton from a week ago, down about $5 per ton from and month ago, and down about $50 per ton from a year ago.
The government is advising rice farmers in the Central provinces to grow taro instead of rice this season due to water shortages in the Chao Phraya River basin.
In an open letter posted on Facebook, former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra defended herself to junta leader Prayath Chan-ocha.  Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister has reiterated that the rice pledging case against Shinawatra is receiving fair treatment from the government and is being dealt with in compliance with the law.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association is hopeful that the country will export 9.5-10 million tons of rice in 2016 due to several pending purchase orders under government-to-government contracts with the Philippines and China.
Vietnam
Vietnam 5% broken rice is today shown at about $375 per ton, unchanged from a week ago, up about $20 per ton from a month ago, and down about $50 per ton from a year ago.
Rice exports from Vietnam increased sharply in October following three sluggish months.  The increase is attributed to increased demand from the Philippines and Indonesia.  Despite the increase, total rice exports are still behind last year’s numbers, according to the Vietnam Food Association.
The large-scale field model introduced by the government of Vietnam under the Decision No 62/2013 to encourage large-scale fields is beginning to show effective results, especially in rice production, says the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Cambodia
Cambodia 5% broken rice is today shown at about $420 per ton, unchanged from a week and a month ago, and down about $40 per ton from a year ago.
Paddy yields in Cambodia from the ongoing wet-season rice crop are expected to be slightly below last year due to drought but the decline is not likely to impact exports.
India
India 5% broken rice is today shown at about $350 per ton, unchanged from a week ago, down about $10 per ton from a month ago, and down about $65 per ton from a year ago.
In an effort to evade Iran’s restrictive import permits on India’s basmati rice, Indian rice is being shipped through the United Arab Emirates and then on to Iran.
The government of Bangladesh plans to procure 200,000 tons of 2015 Aman (July-December) rice from millers between December 15 and March 15. Meanwhile, the government is planning to increase the import duty on rice imports from the current 10% to curb surging imports, especially from India, according to the Food Minister.
Pakistan
Pakistan 5% broken rice is today shown at about $320 per ton, unchanged from a week ago, up about $10 per ton from a month ago, and down about $80 per ton from a year ago.
Central & South America
Brazil 5% broken rice is today shown at about $500 per ton, unchanged from a week and a month ago and down about $50 per ton from a year ago.
The USDA Post forecasts Brazil’s MY 2015-16 (April 2016-March 2017) rice production to decline about 10% y/y to around 8 million tons.  The decline is attributed to incessant rains in Rio Grande do Sul with is delaying planting operations and may lower yields.
Brazil’s rice stocks stood at around 121,038 tons in October, down about 3% from the previous month and down about 76% from October 2014.
In the first nine months of 2015, Brazil exported about 852,242 tons of rice.  In September, Brazil exported about 133,130 tons of rice, an increase of about 13% from August.
The Brazilian paddy rice index maintained by the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA) reached around 40.98 real per 50 kilograms as of November 10, 2015, slightly up from around 40.8 real per 50 kilograms recorded on November 2, 2015.  In terms of USD per ton, the index reached around $218.05 per ton on November 10, 2015, slightly up from around $216.5 per ton recorded on November 2, 2015.  Month-on-month, the index has increased about 2% from about 40.31 real per 50 kilograms. In terms of USD, the index increased about 1.5% during the month.
Argentina and Uruguay rice ended the week shown around $535 per ton, unchanged from a week prior, down $5 per ton from a month ago and down about $65 per ton from a year ago. 
The USDA Post reports that Argentina’s local rice sector is facing problems due to slow export sales and high domestic costs, making it difficult to compete internationally.  However, Argentina has exported about 432,568 tons of rice in the first six months of 2015, an increase of about 21% from the same period in 2014.
U.S.
U.S. 4% broken rice is today shown at about $500 per ton, unchanged from a week and a month ago and up about $45 per ton from a year ago.
Chicago rough rice futures for January delivery fell in the first half of the week, opening at the weekly high of $12.400 per cwt (about $273 per ton) before dropping to a weekly low of $11.850 per cwt (about $261 per ton) midweek.  Futures recovered some later in the week to close at $12.145 per cwt (about $268 per ton) on Friday.
The U.S. cash market was weaker early in the week as bids and offers dropped with the futures market and the USDA’s WASDE report showed an increase in global ending stocks.  It firmed up some later in the week, in tandem with the rally in the futures market, but most farmers remained on the sidelines waiting for better prices.
In its November 2015 World Agricultural Demand and Supply Estimates reports, the USDA estimates the U.S. all rice supplies at around 12.01 million tons, up from last month’s forecast of 11.88 million tons but down from 2014-15’s numbers due to expected higher production.  The USDA estimates U.S. 2015-16 all rice production at around 8.65 million tons, and it estimates U.S. all rice exports at around 4.45 million tons.
Other Markets
Myanmar 5% rice is today shown at around $410 per ton, unchanged from a week ago and down about $5 per ton from a month ago. Myanmar’s rice exports declined sharply in the first six months of FY 2015-16 (April-March) due to a temporary ban imposed on exports in efforts to safeguard prices and stocks following devastating floods in August this year.
The government of Nigeria is striving to attain self-sufficiency in rice production in the next two years.
South Korea’s government rice stocks at the end of October have reached around 1.36 million tons, an increase of about 58% from the same time last year.  The increase is attributed to higher production and lower consumption. The nation’s rice production has reached a six-year high in 2015 due to increase in yields, according to Statistics Korea.The European Union’s rice imports from Least Developed Countries of Asia under the Everything But Arms Agreement have reached about 42,916 tons in the first two months of the crop year 2015-16 (September-August), down about 7% from the same period last year.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the EU member states have finalized the norms for re-assessment of glyphosate, a chemical that is used widely in pesticides.
The Malaysian Trade Minister has said Malaysia may not ratify the final Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement due to the TPP obligations on geographical indications.
Italian paddy rice prices, which were quite low in the last week of September and first week of October, started increasing in the second week of October and are continuing the pace.
USDA Post forecasts Egypt's MY 2015-16 (May - April) rice exports at around 400,000 tons, up about 60% from an estimated 250,000 tons in MY 2014-15 due to the government's resumption of milled rice exports for six months effective October 4, 2015.
USDA Post forecasts China to import around 4.7 million tons of rice in MY 2015-16 (July - June), up about 9% from an estimated 4.315 million tons imported in MY 2014-15 due to prevailing high domestic rice prices.
The Philippines 2015 third quarter paddy production is recorded at around 2.55 million tons, down about 15.7% from around 3.027 million tons produced during the same period in 2014, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The decline is attributed to extending drought conditions brought about by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
Guyana has exported around 437,448 tons of rice in the first ten months (January - October) of 2015, up about 6% from around 412,228 tons exported during the same period last year, according to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

Thailand, Vietnam Rice Sellers Alter Some of Their Quotes Today; Other Asia Rice Export Quotes Remain Unchanged

Nov 13, 2015

Thailand rice sellers have lowered their quotes for fragrant A1 Super rice variety by $5 per ton to around $340 - $350 per ton today. Vietnam rice sellers increased their quotes for 100% broken rice variety by about $5 per ton to around $335 - $345 per ton. They lowered their quotes for jasmine rice by about $10 per ton to around $460 - $470 per ton. India rice sellers are out due to a public holiday. Other rice quotes remain unchanged today.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton about $15 per ton discount on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $370 - $380 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $30 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $315 - $325 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $10 per ton discount on Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $355- $365 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $35 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $290 - $300 per ton.
Parboiled Rice            
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $340 - $350 per ton, about $65 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.     

100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $335 - $345 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $285 - $295 per ton, about $5 per ton premium on Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $280 - $290 per ton.

Philippines 2015 3Q Paddy Rice Production Declines 15.7%y/y Due to El Nino, Says PSA

Nov 13, 2015
The Philippines 2015 third quarter paddy production is recorded at around 2.55 million tons, down about 15.7% from around 3.027 million tons produced during the same period in 2014, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The decline is attributed to extending drought conditions brought about by the El Nino weather phenomenon.Paddy production in the first none months of 2015 has reached around 10.875 million tons, down about 4.7% from around 11.407 million tons produced during the same period last year.
The PSA data shows that the average farm gate paddy prices have declined to around 17.75 peso per kilogram (around $377 per ton) in the July-September quarter, down about 13.4% from around 20.51 peso per kilogram (around $435 per ton) during the same period last year.The average farm gate paddy prices have declined to around 17.5 peso per kilogram (around $371 per ton) in the January-September period, down about 13.4% from around 20.21 peso per kilogram (around $429 per ton) during the same period last year.  

Guyana Exports 437,448 Tons of Rice in First Ten Months of 2015; Up 6% from Previous Year

Nov 13, 2015
Guyana has exported around 437,448 tons of rice in the first ten months (January - October) of 2015, up about 6% from around 412,228 tons exported during the same period last year, local sources quoted data from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).However, earnings from exports are understood to have fallen during the ten-month period due to a significant fall in world rice prices. Also, loss of Venezuela market has affected the country's export prices, according to the General Manager of the GRDB. “In 2014 almost 30 per cent of the market that we exported to was Venezuela, for which the country and the farmers were receiving higher than above world market prices for the rice and paddy they exported there.”
This year, exporters have received only market prices, he added. The official added that in 2014, exporters received about $480 per ton of paddy and about $780 for milled rice from Venezuela. However, this year, prices of white rice have fallen to around $390 - $398 per ton.

Though Venezuela has decided not to renew the PetroCaribe (Oil for Rice) deal with Guyana, the government of Guyana has been successful in increasing rice exports to Caricom countries (Antigua, Barbados and Belize), and to the European Union (EU) in 2015."With an aggressive marketing strategy spearheaded by the GRDB and the Private Sector, and with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, the country is set to soon secure many new markets for the country’s rice and paddy," the GRDB official noted. He also noted that they GRDB is also focussing on markets where best prices are obtained.Guyana exported about 501,208 tons of rice in 2014, up about 27% from around 394,988 tons exported in 2013, according to the GRDB.

Rice News have been shared with written permission of ORYZA.com