Tuesday, May 24, 2016

24th May,2016 Daily Global,Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine


Today Rice News Headlines...

·         CPRMA delegation meets CM
·         5 Iloilo towns selected for rice initiative program
·         Thai govt mulls compulsory insurance on rice crops
·         Department of Foreign Trade to discuss the sale of rice with African nations
·         BEARISH ON RICE, WHEAT, CORN AND SOYBEAN: RABOBANK"
·         05/23/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
·         Senator Moran Addresses 81th Annual Delta Council Meeting
·         Rain comes as a blessing for unirrigated pockets at Odisha
·         Fragrant rice predominates in exports
·         Old School Museum displays rice growing history
·         Rice prices set to rise over rest of the year
·         Cambodia Fragrant Rice Exports to EU Threatened by Rogue Traders
·         Cambodia Largest Rice Supplier to EU
·         2 seized boats of smuggled rice handed over to customs
·         Drought expected to drive up domestic rice prices later in year
·         Iloilo towns to pilot rice initiatives
·         APEDA Agri Exchange Newsletter - Volume 1478

News Detail...
CPRMA delegation meets CM
Source: The Hitavada     
Date: 23 May 2016 12:06:10
Business Reporter,RAIPUR,
May 22,
The office-bearers of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Rice Millers Association (CPRMA) submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh at his official residence recently.The CPRMA requested the State Government to consider their demands. CPRMA President Yogesh Agrawal said that rice millers should be given tax rebate in paddy. Either power-tariff should be reduced or custom milling charge should be reduced.

Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh being presented a bouquet by the office-bearers of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Rice Millers Association.
Moreover, a notification should be issued for the Mandi fee as 0.5 per cent, he added. The office-bearers of the CPRMA demanded that the State Govt announce new custom milling policy. All grievances related to rice millers should be resolved at the earliest, Yogesh Agrawal said.
http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2016/5/23/CPRMA-delegation-meets-CM.aspx

5 Iloilo towns selected for rice initiative program

Monday, May 23, 2016
FIVE rice producing municipalities in the province of Iloilo were selected as project sites of the Better Rice Initiatives Asia-Fostering Agriculture and Rice Marketing by improved Education and Rural advisory Services (BRIA-Farmers) funded by the German government’s Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The Department of Agriculture regional office said the program aims to support small-holder rice farmers in increasing their income by optimizing their production techniques, marketing access and the strengthening of the whole rice value chain.
The covered towns are Leganes, Mina, Oton, Pototan, Sta. Barbara and Zarraga in the province of Iloilo with other project sites in the provinces of Aurora and Southern Leyte which is now implementing its second component in providing “better market linkages.”
The program is implemented with the DA, Agricultural Training Institute, Philippine Rice Research Institute, International Rice Research Institute, and private partners involving the municipal agricultural officers, farmer association leaders, and millers and traders.
BRIA and Philrice had made an initial consultation with local traders and millers to better facilitate long-term deal between farmer groups and retailers. (LCP)
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/local-news/2016/05/23/5-iloilo-towns-selected-rice-initiative-program-475265

 

Thai govt mulls compulsory insurance on rice crops


Government mulls compulsory insurance on rice crops
BANGKOK: — The government is considering a plan which will make it compulsory for rice farmers to insure their rice crops with insurance companies which, in the long run, will ease the government’s burden in helping farmers.
An informed source in the Non-Life Insurance Association said that the compulsory insurance scheme would first to be applied with farmers who are debtors of the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives which would cover about 25 million rai of rice farmland. The insurance premium is estimated at 130 baht per rai. Currently, seven insurance companies are providing farm insurance coverage for seven risks namely flood or heavy rains, drought, storm or typhoon, cold weather or frost, hailstorm and fire. Insurance premium ranges from 115 baht to 450 baht/rai.
Farmers will be compensated 1,111 baht/rai if the crops are ravaged by either of the seven risks; 555 baht/rai for damages caused by pests.However, the source pointed out that insurance companies would charge an average premium of 120 baht/rai if at least 25 million rai of farmland are insured which are deemed economically feasible.
Meanwhile, Mr Suthipol Thaveechaikarn, secretary-general of Insurance Business supervision and promotion committee, said that of the 120 baht/rai insurance premium to be charged on farmers, the farmers will actually pay 20 baht/rai while the rest to be charged to BAAC on the condition that only 15 rai per household are insured
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thai-govt-mulls-compulsory-insurance-on-rice-crops/142808/
Department of Foreign Trade to discuss the sale of rice with African nations

BY EDITORON 2016-05-23THAILAND
Department of Foreign Trade to discuss the sale of rice with African nations
BANGKOK, 23 May 2016 (NNT) – The Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) is expediting its search of new sales channels for the government’s rice reserves, after numerous African countries expressed interest in buying on credit.
DFT Director-General Duangporn Rodphaya revealed that her agency has consulted with the Ministry of Finance on the feasibility of selling the rice reserves on credit. Details of the discussions have yet to be concluded. In order to minimize risk, the department must thoroughly examine the details of the scheme, payment methods, and credit ratings of potential buyers.
The DFT will prepare to meet with African buyers and various banks to discuss possible business matching and transaction methods. The Thai government currently has no policy of trading rice with another commodity, due to complexities in price calculations
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/department-of-foreign-trade-to-discuss-the-sale-of-rice-with-african-nations/142911/
BEARISH ON RICE, WHEAT, CORN AND SOYBEAN: RABOBANK"


May 23, 2016, 05.39 PM | Source: CNBC-TV18 Bearish on rice, wheat, corn and soyabean: Rabobank Soyabean has also seen a price hike by 25 percent due to flooding in Argentina and a dry weather in Brazil. Corn is another crop that can be impacted due to this. The International Grain Council estimates 2016's world harvest of rice to be at 473 million tonnes. This is the first decline in output since 2010 due to drought in the three major producers of rice which are India, Vietnam and Thailand. This has led to a spike in rice prices.  Also, soyabean has also seen a price hike by 25 percent due to flooding in Argentina and a dry weather in Brazil. Corn is another crop that can be impacted due to this
Stefan Vogel, Global Sector Strategist, Grains & Oilseeds, Rabobank, however, said grain prices had factored in a lot of such news and is now bearish on rice, wheat, corn and also soyabean.  "The world still has enough to supply," he said. Below is the transcript of CNBC-TV18's interview with Stefan Vogel, Global Head Of Rabobank. Q: What is your sense coming in on the international grain council report and how bigger a worry is it at this point? A: We see a couple of very interesting things happening in the grain market recently and a lot is driven by the South American weather.
May be the most remarkable over the last 12 weeks is that Soybean prices increasing by about 25 percent and this is really driven by a lot of flooding in Argentina while at the same time we see heavy dryness in parts of Brazil. So, if you take that we see that the Soybean crop there has declined substantially and on the other hand also parts of the Brazilian corn crop is at risk. If you take both of that, it basically means that there is more demand for North American grains that need to be either processed in the country and produced and exported as commodities or they have to go directly as grains or oil seeds on the export market and this has clearly lent a lot of support recently to the global grain markets in Chicago.
Q: Where do you see a bigger concern coming in? Would you say that the Soybean prices have factored in this issue and what about the rest of the grains? A: Soybean prices as well as corn prices have factored in a lot. We have seen also a lot of fund investments in these areas which turned their position from a net short into a net long position. We are slightly bearish on a lot of these grains right now and feel that there is a bit over done or the markets are bit overdone and we think that the world still has enough to supply but from a situation where two months ago everybody thought it is very plentiful, we are now in a situation where a lot of these markets are balanced or on the oil seed and specially on the Soybean side we are in a situation where, we see the production to fall quite a bit below the demand side.
Q: So, when it comes to Soybean or corn and rice and wheat where do you see more price rise coming in for the rest of this season then? A: Corn prices may have already been priced relatively fair. I think Soybean prices as I mentioned have taken on a lot of these risks and already priced them a little bit too high. So, as you mentioned we are slight bearish on grains as well as on the Soybean side. However looking at India, I think also on the wheat side India is facing challenges this year and will may be rely on higher imports than some people think in the market
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/commodities/bearishrice-wheat-cornsoyabean-rabo http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thai-govt-mulls-compulsory-insurance-on-rice-crops/142808/bank_6725881.html?utm_source=ref_article

05/23/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Soybeans

High
Low
Cash Bids
1074
1008
New Crop
1064
1020


Riceland Foods


Cash Bids
Stuttgart: - - -
Pendleton: - - -
New Crop
Stuttgart: - - -
Pendleton: - - -


Futures:

SOYBEANS


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
1079.00
1052.00
1058.50
-15.75
Aug '16
1076.75
1051.00
1057.75
-15.75
Sep '16
1062.25
1036.25
1045.50
-14.75
Nov '16
1051.25
1025.25
1036.25
-13.25
Jan '17
1044.50
1023.50
1033.50
-14.00
Mar '17
1026.00
1008.00
1016.25
-11.25
May '17
1021.00
1005.75
1011.50
-11.25
Jul '17
1016.75
1006.25
1010.75
-10.75
Aug '17


998.00
-10.75

Soybean Comment

Soybeans closed sharply lower today as prices continue to weaken. There is growing expectations that wet weather and premiums could shift additional acreage into soybeans. Adding to today's bearish tone was the export inspection report which came in at just 2.8 million bushels exported last week. While the USDA is forecasting record exports next year sales remain only average leaving the market a lot of ground to make up in the coming months.



Wheat

High
Low
Cash Bids
477
433
New Crop
478
453


Futures:

WHEAT


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
469.00
461.00
462.00
-5.75
Sep '16
479.25
472.25
473.00
-5.75
Dec '16
497.75
490.25
491.00
-5.50
Mar '17
512.75
508.25
508.50
-5.00
May '17
521.00
517.75
517.50
-5.00
Jul '17
525.75
522.50
522.50
-4.75
Sep '17
534.75
534.75
529.25
-4.75
Dec '17
541.25
538.25
539.50
-4.75
Mar '18
551.00
549.00
549.50
-3.50

Wheat Comment

Wheat prices closed lower today as the market remains near contract lows. Bearish fundamentals combined with improving weather forecasts continue to keep the pressure on wheat prices.



Grain Sorghum

High
Low
Cash Bids
360
319
New Crop
330
274




Corn

High
Low
Cash Bids
402
373
New Crop
401
394


Futures:

CORN


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
399.25
391.00
397.75
+3.25
Sep '16
401.25
393.00
399.75
+3.00
Dec '16
404.25
396.00
402.75
+3.00
Mar '17
411.25
403.00
410.00
+3.50
May '17
414.50
407.00
413.25
+3.00
Jul '17
417.75
410.50
416.50
+2.75
Sep '17
410.50
406.50
409.25
+2.50
Dec '17
411.50
405.00
409.50
+1.50
Mar '18
417.75
417.00
416.75
+0.75

Corn Comment

Corn prices closed higher today as the market was supported by persistent wet weather that could potentially trigger a shift to more soybean acres. The current soybean corn ratio already favors mor soybean acres and the expectation is that farmers may start switching acres as it becomes late to plant corn. While today's export inspections were about where the market expected, sales remain behind the pace to meet the current USDA forecast. Large gains in corn remain illusive as strong supplies remain a threat to the market as "rain makes grain".



Cotton
Futures:

COTTON


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
61.83
61.1
61.45
-0.22
Oct '16
62.03
62.03
62.11
0
Dec '16
61.5
60.85
61.34
0.01

Cotton Comment

Cotton futures ended mixed, with nearby July lower. This week's export report showed improvement. USDA says export sales were 201,100 running bales for 15-16 shipment. That brought export commitments to a total of 8.492 million bales for the marketing year, which is still 21% below the year ago total. China continues to auction 30,000 tons a day to local mills. So far, they are liquidating higher-quality cotton, but the market is looking for indications they are running out of their best reserves and will begin to auction lower quality cotton, some of which is years old. Planting progress is now running behind the 5 year average at 46% planted. Arkansas farmers are ahead of their usual pace, though, with 94% of the crop in the ground, compared with a 5 year average of 84%. December will have resistance at the recent high of 63.69 cents, while support is at 60.10 cents.



Rice

High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:

ROUGH RICE


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
1180.0
1159.0
1161.5
-15.5
Sep '16
1197.0
1180.0
1181.5
-13.5
Nov '16
1213.0
1200.0
1201.0
-12.0
Jan '17
1224.0
1224.0
1219.0
-11.5
Mar '17


1236.5
-11.5
May '17


1256.0
-11.5
Jul '17


1256.0
-11.5

Rice Comment

Rice futures continued lower. Arkansas farmers have now planted 98% of their intended acres. The question remains, though, will they stop there? The five year average for this date is 89%, so if conditions remain favorable, the crop might get bigger, at least 1.6 million acres are likely. This large crop could limit the upside potential of the market, however, dry conditions in other rice growing regions of the world could provide support. July continues to trend higher, but Friday's gap lower gave the charts a negative appearance. Trendline support is near $11.20.



Cattle
Futures:

Live Cattle:

LIVE CATTLE


High
Low
Last
Change





Jun '16
119.450
118.050
118.150
-2.900
Aug '16
115.425
114.450
114.450
-3.000
Oct '16
115.150
114.100
114.100
-3.000
Dec '16
115.675
114.375
114.375
-3.000
Feb '17
115.025
113.600
113.600
-3.000
Apr '17
114.050
112.400
112.600
-2.800
Jun '17
107.250
105.525
106.000
-2.525
Aug '17
105.000
104.000
104.000
-2.450

Feeders:

FEEDER CATTLE


High
Low
Last
Change





May '16
148.100
146.775
147.000
-1.625
Aug '16
145.475
143.425
143.425
-4.500
Sep '16
143.600
141.525
141.525
-4.500
Oct '16
141.925
139.575
139.575
-4.500
Nov '16
138.625
136.200
136.200
-4.500
Jan '17
133.500
131.450
131.450
-4.500
Mar '17
130.775
128.975
128.975
-4.000
Apr '17


129.050
-4.000

Cattle Comment

Cattle prices closed sharply lower to limit down in both feeders and live cattle markets today. Last week's bearish cattle on feed report led today's losses and will likely keep a bearish tone on prices for the near term. The report was bearish for prices, as placements jumped 7% from a year ago levels, which compares to an average pre report estimate of a 0.8% decline. Additionally, marketings were less than expected up just 1%, which was below expectations of 2.4%.



Hogs
Futures:

LEAN HOGS


High
Low
Last
Change





Jun '16
79.850
78.625
79.075
-0.775
Jul '16
80.200
78.975
79.300
-0.950
Aug '16
79.725
78.550
78.725
-1.025
Oct '16
68.425
67.100
67.300
-1.125
Dec '16
63.875
62.625
62.850
-0.975
Feb '17
66.600
66.000
66.075
-0.900
Apr '17
69.625
69.250
69.400
-0.500
May '17


73.625
-0.500
Jun '17
77.500
77.425
77.500
-0.500



Senator Moran Addresses 81th Annual Delta Council Meeting 


CLEVELAND, MS -- Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) delivered the keynote address at the 81st Annual Delta Council meeting here on Friday.  Moran is chair of the Senate Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee and appeared in Mississippi just after his Subcommittee passed their 2016 appropriations bill.  Moran highlighted the work of the Subcommittee to support farmers and issues important to them, including Cuba.  The appropriations bill included $1.5 million to allow USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service to place staff in Havana, a provision strongly encouraged by USA Rice. 

Moran spoke about the importance of the work that USA Rice has done educating Members of Congress on the opportunities in Cuba, and pledged to continue working to encourage more trade.  Moran also addressed the challenge of getting anything accomplished in Washington these days and the need for rural America to speak with a louder voice about the benefits American farmers bring to this country.

   
Members of Delta 1000 also heard from Nathan Gonzales, editor of The Rothenberg and Gonzales Political Report on the state of the Presidential and Congressional elections.  He predicted that Senate Republicans may lose their majority in November but that the House will remain Republican, albeit with a smaller majority.  He flatly refused to make a prediction on the Presidential race saying that all assumptions have been thrown out the window this time around.

The attendance at Delta Council events is always impressive and this year was no exception, especially at the traditional fried catfish luncheon after the program.  


USA Rice staff lining up for catfish
"Knowing the Delta Council is out there, looking after the interests of growers and researchers in the region, serving as a resource for me and my organization is absolutely invaluable," said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward who attended the annual meeting.  "We work closely with Chip Morgan and the Council leadership on a wide range of issues including telling the positive story of the tremendous contribution the Mississippi rice industry makes to USA

conservation and their great record of sustainable agriculture.  The whole rice industry, whether they realize it or not, is indebted to the Council for its diligence."
USA Rice Daily

Rain comes as a blessing for unirrigated pockets at Odisha

Published: 23rd May 2016 06:54 AM
Last Updated: 23rd May 2016 06:54 AM
SAMBALPUR: SATURDAY’S heavy showers have come as a boon for a section of farmers and bane for another in Sambalpur and Bargarh districts.On the bright side, the farmers in unirrigated pockets are rejoicing as it has facilitated first round of ploughing for the ensuing kharif season.
Despite record heat in April, unirrigated pockets in Bargarh district had received some rain in May raising hopes of early monsoon. While 39 mm rainfall was  recorded in Jharbandh block on May 18, Bijepur block received 16 mm rainfall on May 14. Command areas of Attabira, Barpali and Bheden registered 48 mm, 20 mm and 22 mm rainfall respectively on May 11.
Farmers have started first round of ploughing and are reportedly gearing up for kharif season after deficit rainfall last year.
The gloomy factor though is that farmers are worried about the huge quantity of paddy stocked at the market yards of Regulated Market Committees (RMC) in Bargarh district. In Sambalpur, paddy stalks are lying in fields waiting to be shifted to hay yards for threshing.   On Saturday, Bargarh block received some rain in the morning and evening leaving farmers in a tizzy as they are worried about their paddy bags dumped in the open in market yards, where procurement is moving at a snail’s pace.
Sambalpur Zilla Krushak Surakhya Sangathan vice-president Umesh Mishra said in several areas harvesting is underway and stalks are lying in the fields. With water likely to accumulate on the fields after heavy rains, farmers are apprehensive that the water content would lead to germination and discolouration. The discoloured stalks would bring them less price, he added.
However, there was not much stock in the market yards as procurement process in Sambalpur district has been smooth, he added.
Thunder squall leaves a trail of destruction
SAMBALPUR: The trail of devastation unleashed by thunder squall and rain was more visible on Sunday morning. Most of the roads were blocked with uprooted trees and electric poles dotting the landscape. It appeared like a riot-torn City as roads wore a deserted look with people busy putting their houses in order after the destruction. While a big chunk of area from Cheruapada to Kunjelpada, Mudipada and Industrial Estate continued to reel under power cut. A major mopping up operation is underway while ODRAF team, fire brigade and WESCO officials are working hard to restore normalcy.
In several areas harvesting is underway and stalks are lying in the fields. With water likely to accumulate on the fields, farmers are apprehensive that the water content would lead to germination and discolouration
SZKSS vice-president Umesh Mishra
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Rain-comes-as-a-blessing-for-unirrigated-pockets-at-Odisha/2016/05/23/article3446552.ece
Fragrant rice predominates in exports
According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), fragrant rice was at the lead in export volume in the first four months this year, accounting for 26.1 percent of the total volume, up 45.1 percent over the same period last year, thanks to surging demand from Asian and African nations A worker packing rice for exports (Photo: SGGP)
Jasmine rice transactions rocketed strongly since the end of April till now to swing around US$485 a ton, higher than $470-475 before. It was followed by medium and high-grade white rice making up 24.5 percent and 21.3 percent respectively.
Meantime, sticky rice export saw a sudden increase of more than 237 percent against the same period last year. Low-grade rice accounted for only 10.1 percent.
Despite slow consumption still lingering, price has been on up trend because of down inventory and influences from drought which has affected the output of main export and import nations, VFA said.
By the end of April, Vietnam exported 1.8 million tons of rice worth US$788.7 million under FOB (Free On Board) term, which was a year on year increase of 20.8 percent in volume and 21.1 percent in value.
By Dang Cong – Translated by Hai Mien
http://www.sggpnews.org.vn/Business/2016/5/118960/
Old School Museum displays rice growing history
The Old School Museum in Dayton, Texas now has an exhibit looking back at the beginnings of rice farming in the Dayton area. The museum is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Posted: Monday, May 23, 2016 9:26 am
The Old School Museum in Dayton, Texas has an exhibit running that traces the development of rice production in the Dayton area since the turn of the twentieth century.The displays include copies of many historic photographs showing early Dayton rice farmers at work, including photographs of Oscar Nelson, Theodore Reidland, John Coffies Lockard, Joe Graves, C. H. Weston, A. C. Weston, Emil Stoesser, Charles Seaberg and Joe Wiseberber, among others.
Many of the earliest rice farmers around Dayton moved to Texas from Iowa. One of them, Charles Frederick Seaberg, was originally from Sweden, the exhibit says, born there in 1869 and immigrated to the United States when he was 20 years old. He came to Stilson in 1904 with his wife Sophia and daughter Dorothy in response to advertisements for fertile farm land there.
The creation of American Rice Growers Dayton Division in the late 1940s is detailed with a photograph of a dozen of the division’s organizers, including their first manager, Audway Knight, along with George Blair, C. K. Boyt, J. W. Trousdale, W. T. Jamison, Will Graves, J. W. Anselin, E. F. Peterson, D. A. Reidland and Bill Conner. A Liberty Vindicator report from August 1948 says that at that time around 15,000 acres in the Dayton area were planted in rice and that 40 local farmers had joined the Dayton Division.
A newspaper report from June 1949 described the rice drier then being built in Dayton at a cost of $150,000 as “modern in every respect.” For its construction, $90,000 was raised locally from participating farmers and businessmen and the rest borrowed from the Houston Bank for Cooperatives. The plant had storage space for 35,000 barrels and could dry 500 to 600 barrels of rice per hour. That 1949 report also said the area then had 18,000 acres planted in rice, “somewhat larger than last year.”
The Old School Museum, located on West Houston Street in Dayton, is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/living/old-school-museum-displays-rice-growing-history/article_79d39530-3576-5dd8-9f56-5b82fba0d7ac.html

Rice prices set to rise over rest of the year


PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION May 23, 2016 1:00 am

THAI RICE prices are expected to climb steadily over the remainder of the year, mainly because of the impact of drought on rice production globally and at home.

However, there are still factors that could suppress prices, including the world economy, financial woes in some countries and uncertainty over the oil price, as it affects the purchasing power of some nations that import rice.

Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general to the Foreign Trade Department, said rice prices were expected to increase continuously in the coming months because of these factors, while global and domestic demand were unchanged.

She said that with the low supply of rice and stable demand, the government would carefully consider the management of its rice stocks and the release of rice, with about 10 million tonnes currently in state stockpiles.

With high demand, the government expects Thailand should break its rice export target of nine million tonnes this year.
The department reported that from January 1 to May 16, Thailand exported 3.9 million tonnes, up 18 per cent compared to the same period last year, while the value rose 11.8 per cent to Bt60.99 billion.

Duangporn said many countries in Africa such as Mozambique had approached the government to purchase rice on credit.She said that to sell rice ion this manner required the Commerce Ministry to first speak with the Finance Ministry to ensure the government would be paid.

Any contract would be on a government-to-government basis.Duangporn said the government may talk to business groups and banks to find the best method for selling rice.But she said the government did not sell rice via barter or counter trade.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Rice-prices-set-to-rise-over-rest-of-the-year-30286481.html

Cambodia Fragrant Rice Exports to EU Threatened by Rogue Traders


Cambodia fragrant rice exports to the European Union (EU) are in jeopardy due to cheating by rogue exporters mixing lower quality grains with the country’s premium product.
At the recent 9th EU-Cambodia Joint Committee meeting in Phnom Penh Cambodia was again warned that mixed milled rice will be an obstacle for its rice to be sold on the EU market, putting at risk about 40 per cent or some 215,000 tons of the 538,000 tons of rice Cambodia exported last year.
Currently Cambodia enjoys duty- and quota-free trade preferences under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement and last May when the matter of rice mixing was raised by the EU, Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce (MoC) warned growers and exporters that the continuation of the practice could see this status revoked.
In a letter the ministry said: “Recently, the EU has increased monitoring of rice imports to investigate the origins of rice imported, with the aim to pause or ban the import of rice without clear origins.”
The ministry threatened it would stop issuing Certificates of Origin to exporters found to be using non-Cambodian rice and also said teams of inspectors would launch surprise raids on rice exporting companies and rice millers to investigate the issue, while Cambodia rice industry associations blamed the practice on “one or two” rogue companies – the same explanation offered this year – suggesting that the issue was blown out of proportion.
That the matter has again been raised by the EU indicates that the problem is far from remedied, perhaps indicating that much like with Thailand and its non-compliance with illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations, the EU is getting tired of its messages falling on deaf ears. The matter of mixed rice grains was first raised in 2013 when the EU Trade Commissioner said as much as 30 per cent of some 196,000 tons of rice exported by Cambodia to EU members  was rice of Vietnam origin mixed with Cambodia rice.

Cambodia Largest Rice Supplier to EU

Photo: John Le Fevre
Exports of Cambodia fragrant rice to the EU face a ban due to rogue traders mixing other grains with the premium Cambodia product
In the last five years Cambodia’s rice exports have increased by some 438 per cent with more than 51 per cent of rice exported in 2014 being Cambodia fragrant rice. In 2015 Cambodia rice represented 24 per cent of annual EU rice imports making it the largest supplier to the 28 country block ahead of India, Thailand, and Guyana.
Any sanction by the EU would be a serious setback for the Cambodia rice sector which employs about 20 per cent of the nation’s workforce. Last year Cambodia fragrant rice, soon to be marked under the name ‘Angkor Malis’, lost its title of ‘world’s best rice’ to California Calrose rice, after holding the title for three consecutive years.
It’s not just the EU concerned over the quality of Cambodia fragrant rice with the EU warning coming ahead of a visit to Cambodia by a team of inspectors from China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), sent to audit some 79 rice milling and warehousing members of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) involved in the shipment of 100,000 tons of rice to China this year.
Cambodian fragrant rice exports are also expected to be hit hard once the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement comes into effect with Vietnam able to export 76,000 tonnes of rice per year to the EU free of import duties.
In 2015 bilateral trade between Cambodia and the EU reached more than €4 billion (about US$4.488 billion), with agricultural products accounting for about 4.4 per cent, or about €181 million ( $203 million), of the total.
However, while EU foreign direct investment (FDI) into Asean accounts for about 25 per cent of the total only about five per cent finds its way into Cambodia. Between January and October 2015 total EU FDI into Cambodia was about $76 million, a drop of 11.63 per cent over the $86 million invested during the same period in 2014

http://aecnewstoday.com/2016/cambodia-fragrant-rice-exports-eu-threatened-rogue-traders/

2 seized boats of smuggled rice handed over to customs

Published on May 23, 2016 by pmnews   
Courtesy: Dailypost
The Eastern Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said the Nigerian Navy had assisted in intercepting two boats laden with smuggled rice in Calabar, Cross River.
The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Command of the NCS, Mr Julius Uzowuru, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
He said that the synergy and inter-agency collaboration between the Eastern Marine Command of the NCS and the Eastern Naval Command of the Nigeria Navy had yielded result.
“The seizure of rice, which was made recently on the high sea by the captain of a Naval Ship, Navy Commander A. O. Ojebode of the Eastern Naval Command between Cameroon and Nigerian border, was carefully concealed in two boats conveying 30 passengers among who were eight Cameroonians and 13 Nigerians.
“Meanwhile, the seizure has since been handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service in Calabar, while the passengers of the boats have been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation,’’ the statement said.
The Customs Area Controller of Eastern Marine Command, Comptroller Usman Bello, had solicited that the Navy should assist the NCS in effecting seizures of contraband goods on the high seas.
Bello said this during the 2016 Obangame Exercise organised in Calabar by the Nigerian Navy which comprised other law enforcement agencies and the media.
Expressing his delight at the seizure, Bello thanked the Nigerian Navy for a successful synergy and co-operation so far.
He decried the inability of his command to patrol the high seas due to lack of sea-going vessel at the moment.
The controller appealed for continued assistance from the Navy in the collaboration exercise and reiterated the need to reduce smuggling to the barest minimum especially on the high seas within the Eastern marine Command.
Bello also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, Rear Admiral Atiku Abdulkadir for the sustained co-operation and synergy between the Navy and Customs.
He wished him well in his new assignment.
The controller also welcomed the new FOC and urged him to sustain the co-operation and collaboration gesture of his predecessor and wished him a successful tenure in office.
In the same vein, the Comptroller General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali expressed his profound gratitude to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, for the operational commitment and inter-agency co-operation exhibited by his officers in the arrest of the two boats laden with rice
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/05/23/2-seized-boats-of-smuggled-rice-handed-over-to-customs/

Drought expected to drive up domestic rice prices later in year


PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION May 24, 2016 1:00 am
THE PRICE of rice in the domestic market is expected to increase by about 5-10 per cent late in the year after drought lowers the supply.
Somkiat Makcayathorn, honorary president of the Thai Rice Packers Association and managing director of Patum Rice Mill and Granary, said rice packers were facing higher costs due to higher prices of paddy rice in the dry season.
The price of packed rice has increased by about Bt5-7.50 per 5-kilogram pack since the beginning of this year, but is still under the government's official ceiling, he said. However, the supply of rice continues to drop, the price could increase in the third or fourth quarter of the year, Somkiat said. However, rice packers will not immediately increase retail prices as there are still enough stocks to last until September.
He said rice packers had also faced higher costs after modern traders began charging them 10-35 per cent higher entrance fees to sell their products in the supermarkets. Somkiat said rice packers would ask the Commerce Ministry to call for a meeting between rice packers and modern traders to make the entrance fees more fair.According to the association, the price of white paddy rice has increased from Bt7,500-Bt8,000 per tonne early this year to Bt9,000-Bt9,500 per tonne at present, while the cost of packed rice was up from Bt12,000-Bt12,500 per tonne to Bt14,000-Bt14,500 per tonne.
Exports to Africa
Somkiat said that although the government had recently opened bidding for rice in its stockpiles, it should not affect the domestic market as this rice would be shipped to African countries.
Manta Kitprasert, president of the Thai Rice Mills Association, said the drought would force rice prices higher in the near future.
"Rice farmers may not benefit much from the higher price as they have faced losses from the previous harvest season due to the shortage of water. Rice millers have also faced problems about liquidity as they could not find rice for milling and doing businesses," he said.
Meanwhile, despite the higher cost of palm fruit, the Internal Trade Department will not allow an increase in the retail price of cooking palm oil, which is limited at Bt42 per litre bottle. Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, director-general of the department, said palm-oil refineries had buffer stocks amounting to about 240,000 tonnes, so a price increase was not warranted.
She said enterprises should be able to shoulder higher costs of production as more palm fruit would enter the market in two months and that would lower its price.Currently, palm fruit is traded at Bt5-5.5 per kilogram.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Drought-expected-to-drive-up-domestic-rice-prices--30286570.html

Iloilo towns to pilot rice initiatives

May 23, 2016 10:21 pm   by Lydia C. Pendon
ILOILO CITY: Five rice-producing municipalities in the province of Iloilo were selected as project sites of the Better Rice Initiatives Asia – Fostering Agriculture and Rice Marketing by improved Education and Rural advisory Services (BRIA FARMERS).The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office here said the program aims to support small-holder rice farmers in increasing their income by optimizing their production techniques, marketing access and the strengthening of the whole rice value chain.Covered are the towns of Leganes, Mina, Oton, Pototan, Santa Barbara and Zarraga in the province of Iloilo, while other project sites are in the provinces of Aurora and Southern Leyte.
Southern Leyte is now implementing its second component in providing “Better Market Linkages.”The program is funded by the Germany’s Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and implemented with DA’s Agricultural Training Institute; the Philippine Rice Research Institute; the International Rice Research Institute; and private partners involving the municipal agricultural officers, farmer association leaders, and millers and traders.
http://www.manilatimes.net/iloilo-towns-to-pilot-rice-initiatives/263755/

        APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1478

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 18-05-2016
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Rice
1
India 5% broken
385
2
India parboiled 5% broken stxd
375
3
India 100% broken stxd
305
Wheat
1
CZCE Wheat Futures (USD/t)
385
2
GFO, HRW, DAT Ontario (USD/t)
157
3
NYSE Liffe Milling Wheat Futures (USD/t)
186
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
833
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
583
Source: oryza, agra-net
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 21-05-2016
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Jowar(Sorghum)
1
Vankaner (Gujarat)
Other
2055
2785
2
Vaduj (Maharashtra)
Other
2200
2300
3
Theni (Tamil Nadu)
Other
1440
1500
Maize
1
Haveri (Karnataka)
Local
1400
1450
2
Deoli (Rajasthan)
Other
1440
1691
3
Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh)
Local
1600
1630
Mango
1
Pattambi (Kerala)
Other
1500
2000
2
Dasuya (Punjab)
Other
2500
3000
3
Kasinagar (Orissa)
Other
2500
3000
Brinjal
1
Chala (Kerala)
Other
2300
2358
2
Bargarh (Orissa)
Other
1500
1600
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Other
1430
1520
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 21-05-2016
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
405
2
Hyderabad
400
3
Namakkal
405
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 16-05-2016
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Russet
17
18.50
2
Chicago
Idaho
Russet
15
17
2
Detroit
Wisconsin
Russet
18
18.50
Cucumbers
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
Canada
Long Seedless
13.50
15
2
Detroit
Mexico
Long Seedless
19
20
3
Miami
Mexico
Long Seedless
10
11
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Virginia
Red Delicious
25.50
26
2
Chicago
Michigan
Red Delicious
18.50
18.50
3
Detroit
Michigan
Red Delicious
20
21

Source:USDA