Thursday, April 07, 2016

6th April,2016 daily exclusive oryza rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine


Wholesale Basmati Rice Prices in India Continue to Rise on Increased Buying for Stockpiling

Apr 05, 2016
Wholesale basmati rice prices in the national capital increased today, owing to an increased buying for stockpiling against restricted supplies from producing regions, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
On April 5, 2016, prices of Pusa 1121 increased to around Rs.4,300 - 5,300 per quintal (around $651 - $802 per ton) from previous levels of around Rs.4,250 - 5,200 per quintal (around $637 - $779 per ton).
Prices of common basmati increased to around Rs.5,600 - 5,700 per quintal (around $848 - $863 per ton) from previous levels of around Rs.5,500 - 5,600 per quintal (around $824 - $839 per ton).
"Stockists buying against restricted supplies from producing belts led to the rise in rice basmati prices," traders were quoted.

Philippines May Import Another 500,000 Tons of Rice This Year, Says NFA Administrator

Apr 05, 2016

The government of the Philippines may import another 500,000 tons of rice this year over and above the 750,000 tons imported during the last six months, as part of its efforts to mitigate the impact of El Nino-induced drought on food supply, reports Manila Bulletin citing Reuters.
The National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator told reporters that the President has given the NFA a “standby authority” to import up to half a million tons for this year’s requirements. He note that the NFA can buy rice under a government-to-government (G2G) deal. The Philippines currently has import deals with Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.
The NFA Council will reportedly decide on the timing of the additional purchases, he said. The official noted that the imports will not arrive during the harvest season.
Separately, the Economic Planning Secretary noted that the government needs to monitor rice supply and imports to avoid price volatility, according to Bloomberg. “Although El Nino has entered its weakening stage, the risk of higher food prices remains given the onset of the summer season,” he was quoted.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) estimates the Philippines 2016 first half paddy rice production at around 8.2 million tons, down about 1.5% from around 8.32 million tons in 2015, due to on-going dry weather conditions.
The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) estimates that around 131,649 tons of rice worth 5.33 billion pesos (around $114.2 million) has been lost since February 2015. Total crop losses amount to around P 10 billion (around $217 million) between February 2015 and April 2, 2016, accordign to the DA Under Secretary. The government has put in place a program to address the impact of El Nino on agriculture. It had established a P 19 billion (around $409 million) El Nino mitigation fund which will be used to improve irrigation systems and to support the food-for-work program in drought-affected areas.

Pakistan, Iran Agree to Sign Free Trade Agreement, Says Government Official

Apr 05, 2016

The governments of Pakistan and Iran have agreed to prepare a ground to sign a free trade agreement (FTA), which would boost bilateral trade between the two countries, Daily Times quoted the Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) Chairman.
He told reporters that both the countries would remove non-tariff barriers in bilateral trade under the FTA. He added that they mutually agreed to work on issuing long-term multiple visas to businessmen and increasing direct air flights to boost the prospects of trade.
The development is particularly a good news to the basmati rice exporters who have been urging the government to sign a FTA with Iran, which is the largest importer of basmati rice. Following sanctions by the western countries, most of the Iranian demand for basmati rice shifted to India. The FTA is likely to help Pakistan regain its share in the Iranian market.
The PIAF Vice-Chairman noted that the latest development along with the re-continuation of banking system with Iran would be beneficial to Pakistan exports.

South Korea Purchases 69,444 Tons of Rice Under 2016 TRQ Plan, Says USDA Post

Apr 05, 2016
South Korea will purchase 408,700 MT of rice (milled basis) under the 2016 tariff rate quota (TRQ) purchasing plan, according to the USDA Post. As of March 30, 2016, Korea has bought 69,444 tons of brown rice for processing purposes or 17% of the total 2016 TRQ, consisting of 42,222 tons of medium-grain brown rice (38,000 tons on milled basis) from the U.S., 5,000 tons of broken milled rice from India and 22,222 tons of Chinese short grain brown rice (20,000 tons on milled basis), respectively.
The USDA post forecasts South Korea's MY 2015-16 (November 2015-October 2016) at around 470,000 tons, slightly up from last year's 465,000 tons and unchanged from USDA's official estimates. The Post, however, estimates that some portion of the 2016 TRQ (tariff rate quota) will roll over into next year.
In MY 2014-15, Korea’s rice imports were 464,892 tons, consisting of 217,855 tons imported under the 2014 minimum market access (MMA) quota and 247,037 tons imported under 2015 TRQ, respectively, according to the Post. In the calendar year 2015, U.S. exports to South Korea amounted to 142,806 tons, including 34,114 tons imported under 2014 MMA quota and 108,682 tons imported under 2015 TRQ, respectively.
The Post estimates Korea's MY 2015-16 milled rice production at around 4.327 million tons, up from 4.24 million tons last year and unchanged from USDA's official estimates. It forecasts 2016-17 production to decline to 4 million tons due to a decline in acreage.
Since the per capita rice consumption has been declining significantly over the past few years, the government has decided to seek a balance between rice supply and demand by 2018 through a gradual reduction in area and promotional activities to expand consumption.
In its previous report, the Post reports that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) recently released its plan to reduce arable land for rice cultivation to 711,000 hectares by 2018, significantly smaller than the 749,000 hectares of paddies that would be reached without any action taken. In line with the rice reduction scheme, the government is also planning to introduce the Production Adjustment Program, under which rice farmers will be encouraged to cultivate other crops in their paddy lands, up to 30,000 hectares across the nation in CY 2017.

Private Indian Weather Agency Forecasts Above Normal, Well Distributed Rainfall in 2016

Apr 05, 2016

A long-range weather forecast by a private Indian climate management company predicts that monsoon this year may be 5 - 10% above normal and well-distributed across the country, after two consecutive years of drought, according to the Hindu Business Line.
Based on the dynamic climate model CFSV2 used by the  US national weather agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the agency noted that some areas in the North-East may receive lower-than-normal rainfall.
“We will be coming up with our monsoon forecast every 15 days. While it is possible that the forecast based on data collected in April will be different from that in March, I do not expect much variation,” said a Climate scientist and consultant at the agency. He noted that the optimism is due to the absence of significant variation in the data collected in March.
The agency noted that during mid-March 2016, the tropical sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean was weakening, but was still at a stronger level. However, most of the prediction models indicate that the El Nino conditions would weaken in the coming months, returning to normal by late spring or early summer of 2016. They are also predicting chances of La Nina development by autumn

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Prices Hold Steady as IGB Issues New Tender

Apr 06, 2016

The U.S. cash market held steady today after the Iraqi Grain Board issued another anticipated white rice tender for a minimum of 30,000 tons from Argentinian, Uruguayan, or U.S origin.
According to the IGB, offers need to be submitted by April 10 and must remain valid until April 24.
Analysts note that many are hopeful that Iraq will buy more than the 30,000 MT that they tendered for as this would increase the likelihood that the U.S will get a portion of the business which would be a much needed shot in the arm for the industry.
However, if the IGB fails to award any U.S. origin, U.S. prices will likely continue to fall.

Malaysia to Introduce Crop Insurance for Paddy Farmers

Apr 05, 2016

The government of Malaysia is planning to introduce crop insurance for paddy farmers to protect them from risks related to climate change such as drought, diseases and floods, according to the Star Online.
The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister noted that the government would first introduce the crop insurance only to paddy farmers. Later, it will extend the insurance coverage to other agriculture activities such as livestock, agro-food commodities such as fruits and vegetables as well as the fisheries sector, he said.
The Minister noted that the insurance would make the agriculture sector more attractive to investors and protect farmers from risks of any unfortunate eventualities.
He stated that the self-sufficiency of rice is only 70% in Malaysia. He added that: "Ministry had identified strategies to increase export and control imports such as intensifying production and efficiency, enhancing the competitiveness of Malaysian products and developing import substitution, which included changing Malaysian lifestyles to create more demand for local products."
According to the USDA, Malaysia produces about 64% of rice needed for annual consumption of about 2.8 million tons and imports about one million tons of rice annually. Thailand accounts for about 80% to 90% of them. The USDA estimates Malaysia to produce about 1.8 million tons of milled rice and import about 1.02 million tons of rice in MY 2015-16 (January - December 2016) to meet an annual consumption demand of around 2.82 million tons.

Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Go Nowhere as Market Weighs U.S. Chances at Recently Announced Iraqi Tender

Apr 06, 2016

Chicago rough rice futures for May delivery settled 1 cent were cwt (about $0.22 per ton) lower at $9.790 per cwt (about $216 per ton). The other grains finished the day with mixed results; Soybeans closed about 1% lower at $9.0475 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.2% lower at $4.7400 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.6% higher at $3.5675 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded lower Tuesday, following declines in overseas developed markets, despite better domestic data. Outside of overnight declines in European and Japanese stock indexes on soft data, issues weighing on U.S. stocks included concerns about the coming earnings season, the Treasury's announcement of fresh moves to limit inversions, and low oil prices. Trade in oil was choppy, with U.S. crude oil futures struggling for gains as of 1:37 p.m. ET. WTI earlier hit its lowest since March 4. European stocks closed sharply lower, with the STOXX Europe 600 off 1.9% and the German DAX 2.6% lower. The Nikkei 225 fell 2.4% and the Hang Seng closed more than 1.5% lower. The Shanghai composite closed up nearly 1.5%.In other economic news, the U.S. trade deficit widened more than expected in February, increasing 2.6% to $47.1 billion, Reuters said. January's trade deficit was revised slightly up to $45.9 billion from the previously reported $45.7 billion. In afternoon trade, the Dow Jones industrial average declined 96 points, or 0.55%, to 17,640. The S&P 500 traded down 17 points, or 0.86%, to 2,048, with utilities leading all 10 sectors lower. The Nasdaq composite declined 38 points, or 0.78%, to 4,853. Gold is seen trading about 0.9% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 0.3% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.1% higher at about  1:00pm Chicago time.
Monday, there were 1,010 contracts traded, down from 2,293 contracts traded on Friday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Monday decreased by 220 contracts to 13,061. 

Thailand Rice Sellers Increase Some of Their Quotes Today; Vietnam, India Rice Sellers Lower Some of Their Today

Apr 05, 2016

Thailand rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice by about $5 per ton to around $370-$380 per ton today. Vietnam rice sellers lowered their quotes for 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton to around $340-$350 per ton respectively.  India rice sellers lowered their quotes for parboiled rice by about $10 per ton to around $345-$355 per ton. Pakistan rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged today.        
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton, on par with Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $370 - $380 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton, about $30 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $340 - $350 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, on par with Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $355- $65 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $335- $345 per ton, about $25 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $310 - $320 per ton.
Parboiled Rice           
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $60 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 $330 - $340 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $340 - $350 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $270 - $280 per ton, about $15 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $285 - $295 per ton.

Rice Growers Need Proper Guidance to Earn Carbon Credits, Say Experts

Apr 05, 2016

Recently, the California Air Resources Board has reportedly allowed rice growers to earn carbon credits under the Cap-and-Trade program, from companies that need to offset their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, for mitigating the release of GHGs into the atmosphere.
The Cap-and-Trade program keeps the companies from being subjected to regulatory punishment for excessive greenhouse gas pollution.
“In California, growers can receive credit through practices such as dry seeding and early drainage of fields in preparation for harvest. These growing practices allow for continued use of flooded fields as winter bird habitat, but reduce the amount of rice straw left to decompose in the water (decomposition produces gases),” says the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board.
Rice growers receive a credit for each ton of carbon dioxide not released into the atmosphere, and the verified credits can be sold to companies regulated by the Cap-and-Trade program.
An official from the USA Rice noted that, however, before selling credits to companies, they should be verified by a third party. The whole process turns out to be costly for rice growers, he says. 

AG Professional reports that helping farmers implement the necessary practices for the carbon credit program is necessary. Some experts suggested that crop consultants and agriculture retailers can assist farmers in participating in the program.

6th April,2015 daily global regional and local rice news

Proactive action demanded to salvage Pak basmati market

STAFF REPORT


The Rice Syndicate of Pakistan (RSOP) lamented that the basmati rice of Pakistan has lost ground to Indian competition due to lethargy and lack of proactive action and urged the Ministry of Commerce to make serious efforts to revive the basmati rice industry to its past glory.RSOP Convener Haji Mohammad Saeed held a meeting with the Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) president Zulfikar Thaver and invited his immediate attention to the prospects available and urged him to seek the opportunity to promote basmati rice in Arab, African, European and American markets.
He told the participants that it is now or never and if serious promotion is not done, Pakistan will lose the markets forever as India is taking advantage of our shortcomings and tardiness. Effective marketing and promotional activities like gifts, festivals, deals and superior packing is required to do handsome promotion of the king of rice, our super basmati rice, he emphasised.UNISAME chief assured the participants that every effort will be made to promote basmati rice in the social media by experts and offered all the help to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan to aggressively promote the basmati variety of Pakistan.
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/04/06/business/proactive-action-demanded-to-salvage-pak-basmati-market/








UPDATE 3-Egypt cancels rice tender, says will contract directly if prices stay high

Wed Apr 6, 2016 12:31pm GMT


(Adds GASC's cancellation of tender)
CAIRO, April 6 (Reuters) - Egypt will seek direct contracts to buy rice from abroad if prices offered by traders in its tender competitions are not reduced, the government said on Wednesday as it seeks to overcome a local shortage blamed on suppliers hoarding stocks.
State grain buyer GASC said it cancelled a tendering for an unspecified amount of rice after offers it received did not comply with its specifications or shipment dates.
It was GASC's third rice tendering cancellation since it started seeking the grain on international markets. GASC failed to make a purchase from a tendering last week after being unable to agree on prices with suppliers.
"We may resort to importing rice directly should the high prices of rice being offered at tenders continue," Supply Minister Khaled Hanafi told Reuters.
But traders have said the government is insisting on prices which are unrealistic. "They might as well ask for the rice for free if it's any cheaper. They won't find anyone to sell directly to them," one Cairo-based trader said.
Egypt produced 3.75 million tonnes of rice in the 2015 season and held over 700,000 tonnes from 2014. With consumption at 3.3 million tonnes, that leaves a surplus of more than 1 million tonnes.
But the government's failure to stock up earlier in the season has left it at the mercy of traders, some of whom have been unwilling to sell to the state and are choosing to stockpile instead as domestic prices are rising daily.
GASC has started seeking international tenders to import the grain as a way out of the problem. At its most recent tendering this week it received just two offers for Indian rice, one for $350 per tonne and another for $390 per tonne, of 10,000 tonnes of 5 percent broken rice.
These offers are considered cheap compared with the price of between $370 and $380 per tonne that the rice fetches on the Indian market before shipping to Egypt, one German trader said.
Egypt said last week it would reinstate an export ban on rice to preserve stocks for the local market and control rising prices. (Reporting by Ehab Farouk, Maha El Dahan and Michael Hogan; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by David Holmes and Greg Mahlich)
http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFL5N179186



Cambodia's rice export up 8.5 pct in Q1

06.04.2016
Cambodia exported 162,220 tons of milled rice in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of 8.5 percent compared to the same period last year, according to a report on Wednesday.The Southeast Asian country has exported its milled rice to over 50 countries and regions, said the report compiled by the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export.Three top buyers are China, France and Poland, it said, adding that China imported some 37,118 tons of milled rice from Cambodia during the January-March period this year; France imported 20,996 tons and Poland purchased 18,212 tons.Cambodia produced over 9 million tons of paddy rice a year. With this amount, it has over 3 million tons of milled rice left over for annual exports.

http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/cambodias-rice-export-up-8-5-pct-in-q1



Commerce minister visits Hong Kong to promote Thai rice
Date : 5 เมษายน 2559
BANGKOK, 5 April 2016 (NNT) - Commerce Minister Abhiradee Tantraporn has visited Hong Kong from April 5-7 to strengthen trade relations between the two countries.

She will meet her Hong Kong counterpart to discuss ways to expand the Thai rice market, push for ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement negotiations and ask the Hong Kong government to support Thai SMEs investment in the island state.

Besides, the Rice Exporters Association of Thailand will discuss with the Rice Importers Association of Hong Kong marketing and public relations plans to promote the Thai rice in 2016.
- See more at: http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNECO5904060010002#sthash.u7gSxLcT.dpuf







04/06/2016 08:00 AM EDT
Mark Simone
(202) 720-5653
Mark.Simone@wdc.usda.gov

 WASHINGTON, April 6, 2016-The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2015 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET).  Rough rice prices are unchanged from the previous announcemen


This ‘lethal’ blast occurring in Kashmir can’t be blamed on Pakistan

SRINAGAR: This blast happening in Kashmir Valley has nothing to do with the political dispute or Pakistan; its origin and occurrence is rather linked to China and Japan.
But it isn’t a deadly bomb blast often associated with Kashmir. It is the blast triggered by pathogens in the rice fields of the Valley.A team of agriculture scientists in Kashmir have found that pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae BC Couch, causing the blast- a fungal disease that reduces productivity of rice plants in Kashmir, has proximity to its Chinese and Japanese variants, and not to the Indian ones.
The blast caused by the pathogen in Kashmir Valley is included among the major disease affecting rice production world over.Assistant professor at Division of Plant Pathology, SKUAST-Kashmir, Dr Mehraj-u-Din Shah, who was also a part of this study carried out to characterise M. oryzae, said the pathogen variant was isolated from Kashmir on the basis of its morphological and molecular characteristics.For this, he said, the researchers used sequence information of internal transcribed sequencer (ITS) region of ribosomal-DNA to compare the phylogenetic nature of the variant with that of the sequences retrieved from GenBank of the US-based National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).“The morphological characters, pathogenicity test, and ITS sequence analysis helped in authentic identification of our blast pathogen isolates, confirming that our pathogen was more closely related to the sequences of Chinese and Japanese isolates of M. oryzae as compared to the Indian isolates,” he told Kashmir Reader.The authentic identification resulting from the study has earned the pathogen variant a new description—KP310498—at the NCBI.Shah said the close proximity between the pathogen isolates can be attributed to the fact that Kashmir has been using rice cultivars from China for a long time.“The pathogen population is greatly influenced by its host,” he added.He said the identification and analysis of the character holds greater significance for limiting or fighting this disease.“Rice or Paddy blast has, in the last few years, shown resurgence not only in Kashmir but across North India, mostly due to crop shift and including climate change,” Shah said.In India, the disease has made a comeback after Basmati replaced traditional rice varieties grown across north India. The pathogen attacks Basmati varieties more, while in Kashmir, the diseases gives prevalence and extent of the disease has distressed the farmers.The identification, Shah said, could allow researchers to select resistant varieties of rice developed in China and Japan.“Experiments could be conducted on the varieties to see how they react to our pests,” he said.
http://kashmirreader.com/2016/04/this-lethal-blast-occurring-in-kashmir-cant-be-blamed-on-pakistan/



UPDATE 3-Egypt cancels rice tender, says will contract directly if prices stay high

Wed Apr 6, 2016 12:31pm GMT

 (Adds GASC's cancellation of tender)
CAIRO, April 6 (Reuters) - Egypt will seek direct contracts to buy rice from abroad if prices offered by traders in its tender competitions are not reduced, the government said on Wednesday as it seeks to overcome a local shortage blamed on suppliers hoarding stocks.
State grain buyer GASC said it cancelled a tendering for an unspecified amount of rice after offers it received did not comply with its specifications or shipment dates.
It was GASC's third rice tendering cancellation since it started seeking the grain on international markets. GASC failed to make a purchase from a tendering last week after being unable to agree on prices with suppliers.
"We may resort to importing rice directly should the high prices of rice being offered at tenders continue," Supply Minister Khaled Hanafi told Reuters.
But traders have said the government is insisting on prices which are unrealistic. "They might as well ask for the rice for free if it's any cheaper. They won't find anyone to sell directly to them," one Cairo-based trader said.
Egypt produced 3.75 million tonnes of rice in the 2015 season and held over 700,000 tonnes from 2014. With consumption at 3.3 million tonnes, that leaves a surplus of more than 1 million tonnes.
But the government's failure to stock up earlier in the season has left it at the mercy of traders, some of whom have been unwilling to sell to the state and are choosing to stockpile instead as domestic prices are rising daily.
GASC has started seeking international tenders to import the grain as a way out of the problem. At its most recent tendering this week it received just two offers for Indian rice, one for $350 per tonne and another for $390 per tonne, of 10,000 tonnes of 5 percent broken rice.
These offers are considered cheap compared with the price of between $370 and $380 per tonne that the rice fetches on the Indian market before shipping to Egypt, one German trader said.
Egypt said last week it would reinstate an export ban on rice to preserve stocks for the local market and control rising prices. (Reporting by Ehab Farouk, Maha El Dahan and Michael Hogan; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by David Holmes and Greg Mahlich)
http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFL5N179186

Rice millers face cash flow problems due to dodgy middlemen

Date : 7 เมษายน 2559
BANGKOK, 7 April 2016 (NNT) - The Thai Rice Mills Association has called on the government to protect rice mill operators from suspicious exporters and middlemen. The association held a seminar that was attended by more than 200 rice millers. Secretary-General of the Thai Rice Mills Association Kriengsak Tapananon said many rice millers are having cash flow problems, which he blamed on intermediaries who failed to compensate producers. Mr. Kriengsak wants the government to mediate negotiations between rice millers and supply chain middlemen. President of the Thai Rice Mills Association Manas Kitprasert said that rice farmers have also been affected by the rice millers’ cash flow problems. The lack of funds has forced rice millers to scale back their rice purchases from farmers. The knock-on effect will likely introduce fluctuations in the rice market.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNECO5904070010005#sthash.lEcegBsu.dpuf

Concerns grow over rice exports

Thu, 7 April 2016
After two promising months, Cambodia’s rice exports fell by 14 per cent year-on-year in March, according to new data by Ministry of Agriculture, sparking fears amongst rice millers that export shipments would further decline without adequate financial backing.January and February rice export totals saw double-digit year-on-year growth, but March exports fell to 66,275 tonnes, compared to 75,867 tonnes in March 2015, the data shows.Rice millers said yesterday that the drop was evidence that the industry is struggling with the cost of production, high electricity bills and a lack of finance to purchase and store paddy rice.Taing Chhung Ngy, director of market promotion at rice exporter LBN Angkar (Kampuchea), said that March’s sub-par performance was just the first indicator that the sector’s growth was decelerating.“The decreasing amount of rice exports in March shows that the issues that rice millers and exporters have recently brought up are real challenges,” he said, referring to an action plansubmitted by the CRISIS (Cambodian Rice Industry Survival Implementation Strategy) group last month.In its nine-point plan, the group proposed solutions to tackle issues that threaten the future of Cambodia’s rice sector, specifically a 100,000-tonne limit on rice imports from neighbouring countries and access for miller to $250 million in soft loans to support their operations.“[Rice exports] will keep decreasing if the issues are not resolved,” said Ngy, adding that exporters are cash-strapped and unable to compete with their regional peers.Chray Son, deputy director general of Capital Foods and a member of the CRISIS group, said that millers and exporters are also feeling the implications of drought and delayed rains.“We do not have enough money to buy the paddy rice to stock in the warehouse, so it is a challenge for us to compete,” he said.“The government should provide money to buy paddy rice and stock it in order to sell it to the rice miller.”While last Thursday the government agreed to cut the value added tax (VAT) on imports of rice milling machinery and step up border patrols to crack down on illegal rice imports, there has been no agreement on the facilitation of $250 million in soft loans to proposed by the CRISIS group to ease the financial burden on millers.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/concerns-grow-over-rice-exports

 

04/06/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

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


Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High
Low
Last
Change
May '16
984.0
973.5
974.5
-4.5
Jul '16
1009.0
1000.0
1001.0
-4.0
Sep '16
1027.5
1023.0
1021.0
-3.5
Nov '16
1042.0
1037.0
1039.0
-3.5
Jan '17
1058.0
-3.0
Mar '17
1076.5
-2.5
May '17
1077.0
-2.0
   

Rice Comment

Rice futures were lower but traded in a very narrow range. It looks like futures are attempting to consolidate above the recent spike low. The market charted a huge bearish reversal on Thursday in reaction to USDA's planting intentions report. Rice acres are expected to be up 17% from 2015 at 3.064 million acres. All of that gain and then some will be in long grain rice, while medium grain acreage will actually be down 17% across the country. Arkansas is expected to plant 1.581 million acres of rice consisting of 1.43 million acres of long grain and 150,000 acres of medium grain. The crop progress report showed 16% of the rice in the ground nationwide, with Arkansas coming in at 11% planted. Technically, the first level of support for May is Thursday's low of $9.42 1/2. A close below that level could send the market headed for a retest of support at $9.22 on the continuation chart.

15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FOOD PROCESSING & TECHNOLOGY

Date:
Location:
Crowne Plaza / Istanbul / Turkey
Category:

We feel proud and honored to invite the attendees across the globe to its premier 15th International Conference on Food Processing & Technology (Food Technology-2016) to be held during November 07-09, 2016 at Istanbul, Turkey. With researcher and nutritionist working on the science of future food we will form a traverse between the academic and industry peers. This agenda for this Food Technology Conferences will focus mainly on investigating the Interrelationships of Food, Nutrition and Health to Feed our Future. Turkey is considered to be one of the leading countries in the world in the field of food and agriculture. Turkish food sector employs more than 100 thousand registered workers and technical staff in more than 28 thousand enterprises which are mostly SMEs. Two thousand of these enterprises are relatively modern and big plants. For registration and more information about this Food Technology Event visit our website: http://foodtechnology.conferenceseries.com/ 

 

Palak chicken: A true Pakistani delight

By Ambreen Malik Published: April 6, 2016

I had Palak chicken at one of the Pakistani restaurants and I loved it. Later I tried my own version at home and have not looked back ever since. PHOTO: AMBREEN MALIK
Palak gosht was cooked very frequently in my mother’s household during the winter season and for some reason, I never liked what meat did to the spinach. While living in London, I once had Palak chicken at one of the Pakistani restaurants and loved it. Later, I tried my own version at home and have not looked back ever since. My brother, O, who was studying at the University of Warwick during that time, became the guinea pig for my cooking experiments.My palak chicken didn’t just get approved by him, but I was also requested to make some for him to take along to Warwick. For the year he was there, I used to make a stack of food and freeze it for him to take along for the next two weeks. A quarter into the year, I started getting phone calls from his Pakistani and Indian class mates with specific requests for food, followed by thank you phone calls.

I wasn’t thrilled to find out that O’s flat mates were eating all of his home cooked food. My first-hand experience taught me that the one thing that you miss the most while living away from home is the home cooked food. I quietly doubled the food he took to Warwick. Things sisters do for their little brothers!!! Last night, O called me from his office and asked me if I could make some palak chicken for him. I am always happy to fulfil such farmaish (requests

 

Wheat remains weak on higher supply, reduced offtake

PTI | Apr 6, 2016, 02.35 PM IST
New Delhi, Apr 6 () Wheat prices fell further by Rs 10 per quintal at the wholesale grains market on ample stocks on higher supplies from producing regions against reduced offtake by flour mills.Maize also eased on muted demand from consuming industries.Traders said adequate stocks position on higher supplies from producing belts against reduced offtake by flour mills kept wheat prices lower.
Meanwhile, over 15,000 tonnes of wheat have arrived in the grain markets of Haryana during the rabi marketing season 2016-17.
In the national capital,wheat dara (for mills) eased by Rs 10 to Rs 1,590-15,95 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and shed Rs 5 at Rs 1,600-1,605 per 90 kg.
Other bold grains like, maize fell by Rs 100 to Rs 1,600-1,610 per quintal.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 1,965-2,570, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,590-1,595, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,600-1,605, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 230, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 230, Roller flour mill Rs 850-860 (50 kg), Maida Rs 930-940 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,010-1,025 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 5,600-5,700, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,300-5,300, Permal raw Rs 1,850-1,900, Permal wand Rs 2,050-2,100, Sela Rs 2,200-2,300 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,600-1,620, Bajra Rs 1,600-1,605, Jowar yellow Rs 1,800-1,900, white Rs 3,400-3,500, Maize Rs 1,600-1,610, Barley Rs 1,340-1,350. SUN KPS SBT MKJ
timesofindia

USA Rice Applies for International Promotion Program Dollars 

WASHINGTON, DC -- Earlier this week the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) announced the program application dates for 2017 for a series of FAS funded cost-share programs utilized to develop export markets for U.S. agricultural products.  These programs include the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), the Market Access Program (MAP), and the Emerging Markets Program (EMP), all of which USA Rice has utilized for a number of years to promote U.S. rice internationally. The due date for the application for the MAP and FMD programs is June 3, in the form of the Unified Export Strategy, a very detailed and exhaustive recitation of market conditions, constraints and opportunities to increased trade, proposed strategies to overcome those constraints or take advantage of those opportunities, and required measures of success.  In the current year, USA Rice received $4.63 million in combined MAP and FMD funding. 

In order to qualify for this funding, FAS wants to see additional support for the proposed programs coming from within the industry itself.  USA Rice has pledged an impressive 400 percent match in industry cash or in-kind contributions.

"The total funding for the two largest programs for MAP and FMD are set at just $200 million and $34.5 million, respectively," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice vice president of international promotion.  "The funding levels have remained unchanged for a number of years, and the fact that more applicants are now receiving funding and FAS administrative costs are rising, has reduced the availability of funding for cooperators like U.S. rice.  Clearly, more funding is needed and justified for these successful programs as studies show that for every dollar expended on market development, U.S. ag exports increase by $35."

The EMP program has the same due date, however, if not all funding is utilized, additional proposals are accepted later in the year as long as funds remain uncommitted.  USA Rice currently has an approved EMP project to bring Chinese officials to the U.S. to inspect export facilities and to then conduct a seminar in China for importers should the phytosanitary protocol be finalized.  

USA Rice carries out promotions and trade servicing programs in more than 20 countries utilizing these resources.  These funds are essential for U.S. rice which is so export dependent - with as much as 50 percent of the annual crop destined for the international market.

Drought is hammering Vietnam's agriculture, including crops like rambutan seen here being transported in the Mekong delta.

Mekong megadrought erodes food security

The worst drought ever recorded in Vietnam is stoking fears of a food security crisis. In a meeting with government officials next week, researchers with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)’s Asia regional office in Hanoi will unveil maps showing how water scarcity and climate change may imperil key crops—rice, cassava, maize, coffee, and cashew nuts—across the country. 
"The severity of this year's drought will have a profound impact on Mekong delta agricultural production,” says Brian Eyler, deputy director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C.
As of mid-March, nearly a million people in central and southern Vietnam lack access to fresh drinking water, according to a recent United Nations report. And supplies of rice, the main staple crop, are in jeopardy. Saltwater intrusion in the Mekong delta has destroyed at least 159,000 hectares of paddy rice so far, with a further 500,000 hectares at risk before the onset of the summer monsoon. The Vietnam government has approved $23.3 million in emergency funds to compensate hard-hit farmers and provide water tanks and other critical provisions. Meanwhile, the Vietnam Red Cross Society has been mobilized to provide assistance in provinces where local health clinics are struggling to deliver essential services due to insufficient freshwater.
Concern is focused on the Mekong River, Southeast Asia’s longest waterway and the lifeblood of the region. The river originates on the Tibetan Plateau and flows south through China’s western Yunnan province, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam before spilling into the South China Sea. According to the U.N. report issued last month, “Since the end of 2015, water levels in the lower Mekong River have been at their lowest level since records began nearly 100 years ago.” The United Nations estimates that the water level flowing through the Mekong and its lower tributaries last month was down 30% to 50% compared with average March levels.
Water levels customarily drop during the dry season, resulting in saltwater intrusion from the South China Sea. But last year, because of unusually sparse rainfall, the saltwater intrusion began 2 months early—tainting groundwater and rice paddies as far as 90 kilometers inland, according to the United Nations. Most rice growers in the region get at least two yields annually out of the delta’s fertile soil, Eyler says. “Typically this time of the year, farmers there will have planted the first crop,” he says. “But currently most fields are dry and the earth cracked.”
Several factors reduced the Mekong to a trickle this year, says Leocadio Sebastian, regional program leader for the International Rice Research Institute’s office in Hanoi. “El Niño contributed to the drought by reducing rains, and this may be exacerbated by climate change,” he says. Upstream dams, a perennial concern in Southeast Asia, have also constricted flow. Under normal flow conditions, Sebastian says, “the river’s fresh water drives more saline water back to the sea.” China, which has often come under criticism from environmentalists for building and financing dams on the Mekong, is now attempting to ameliorate conditions: It is currently releasing water from a major Mekong dam in Yunnan, the Jinghong hydropower station, to alleviate shortages downstream, the state news agency Xinhua reports.
On 12 April, a CIAT research team assembling maps will brief Vietnamese officials on projected vulnerabilities from climate change. The bottom line, says CIAT’s Clément Bourgoin, is that “the coastal Mekong region may become less suitable for some agriculture,” especially rice, because of warmer summer temperatures and saltwater intrusion from rising sea levels.
Rice varieties with enhanced tolerance to salt and drought may rescue some farmers, but the use of modified seeds “must be matched” with good climate modeling, Sebastian says. “Even ‘drought tolerant’ rice doesn’t tolerate the worst possible droughts.

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/04/mekong-mega-drought-erodes-food-security

VN to sustain rice exports despite failed crops
VietNamNet Bridge – The rice output of the winter-spring rice crop fell significantly because of drought and salination, but with an additional 200,000ha to be planted in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region, there will be enough rice for exports, according to the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta Rice Research Institute.

Rice is packaged at Co May Co in Dong Thap Province’s Chau Thanh District. —  Photo: VNS
As many as 180,000 hectares of the winter-spring rice crop in the Cuu Long Delta region have been damaged by drought and saltwater.The region is expected to yield 10.94 million tonnes of paddy from the crop, down by 186,144 tonnes over the same period last year.Professor Nguyen Hong Son, director of the rice research institute, said that rice output from the winter-spring crop fell by 10-15 per cent, but localities plan to increase the cultivation area for the autumn-winter crop by 200,000ha. Thus, there will be no shortage of rice exports.With drought and saltwater intrusion expected to continue, Kien Giang Province in collaboration with agencies has taken urgent measures, including building dams made of Larsen steel to prevent saltwater intrusion into fields and to save thousands of hectares of rice to be harvested soon. This will also help protect upcoming rice crops.
Nguyen Van Tam, director of Kien Giang Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the provincial authority set a target of 4.7 million tonnes of rice this year. Due to drought and saltwater, its rice output had fallen by over 200,000 tonnes compared to its plan.
To compensate for the fallen output, the provincial agricultural sector would increase the cultivation area for the autumn-winter rice crop by 30,000ha to 120,000ha, he said.
At a recent meeting to review the winter-spring rice crop and set tasks for the next crop organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, delegates agreed that with localities increasing rice cultivation areas, the damage level of the winter-spring crop would not have a great impact on rice supply sources for export.
Rice prices up
A fall in output has increased rice prices in the region. In Can Tho City, for example, farmers have harvested all cultivation areas of the winter-spring crop of 87,000ha.
Currently, a kilo of dried IR50404 paddy costs VND5,800-5,900 (26.3-26.8 US cents) , while jasmine rice is priced VND6,700-6,800, up VND500-700 compared to the beginning of the crop.
Despite higher rice prices, most farmers do not have rice to sell since they harvested and sold their fresh paddy right at the field.Many of them had even received deposits from traders to sell their rice at the beginning of the crop at much lower prices.Nguyen Thanh Son, a farmer in Hau Giang Province’s Phung Hiep District, said rice prices were unstable in previous years, with farmers even unable to sell their rice.

At the beginning of this winter-spring crop, Son and other farmers received deposits from traders to sell rice. Because the price increased strongly at the end of the crop, now the farmers have regrets.With current price of VND5,400 per kilo of fresh paddy in the field, VND1,000 higher than in the beginning of the crop, Son’s family lost VND5 million ($227) of profit from one-ha rice field.Le Cong Ly, a rice trader in Dong Thap Province’s Cao Lanh District, said rice prices in Can Tho and Vinh Long had also increased.

Many traders came to newly cultivated paddy fields for the summer-autumn crop in Hau Giang, Dong Thap and An Giang provinces to place orders to buy rice, he said.Professor Vo Tong Xuan said the agricultural sector should quickly apply measures to cut production costs to benefit farmers and improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese rice in the world market
The Government had set the average production cost for a kilo of rice at VND3,800, but farmers had been spending VND3,500-4,000 to produce each kilo of rice, he said.

 

Rice Prices


Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season 
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Gorakhpur(UP)
1800.00
542.86
5752.00
1540
2070
-23.00
Rayagada(Muniguda)(Ori)
230.00
-
230.00
2500
-
-
Allahabad(UP)
150.00
7.14
5850.00
2165
2165
1.64
Durgapur(WB)
133.50
1.14
1194.00
2200
2200
-8.33
Asansol(WB)
132.00
NC
1978.50
2200
2200
-
Ballia(UP)
120.00
NC
6590.00
2010
2015
2.03
Mathabhanga(WB)
100.00
-23.08
3450.00
1950
1950
NC
Pilibhit(UP)
98.00
-2
18094.00
2195
2185
0.69
Sehjanwa(UP)
92.00
13.58
520.50
2080
2080
5.32
Ghaziabad(UP)
75.00
36.36
2325.00
2150
2150
1.18
Thodupuzha(Ker)
70.00
NC
2240.00
2650
2650
8.16
Etawah(UP)
70.00
-30
18785.00
2270
2275
1.34
Saharanpur(UP)
70.00
7.69
4282.00
2170
2160
2.36
Kalipur(WB)
65.00
8.33
4532.00
2050
2050
NC
Achalda(UP)
50.00
-28.57
3192.50
2290
2280
3.62
Pandua(WB)
48.00
4.35
1569.00
2700
2500
NC
Jorhat(ASM)
47.00
74.07
1339.00
2700
2700
-3.57
Gondal(UP)
45.00
-40
11317.10
2030
2050
1.00
Kasimbazar(WB)
43.50
NC
1539.00
2280
2280
-6.94
Karimganj(ASM)
40.00
NC
1400.00
2200
2200
4.76
Beldanga(WB)
37.00
-5.13
1610.00
2280
2280
-6.94
Khatra(WB)
37.00
-5.13
724.00
2100
2200
-10.64
Purulia(WB)
36.00
50
1687.00
2120
2120
-10.17
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
30.00
NC
860.00
1800
1900
-3.74
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
30.00
NC
1379.00
3200
3200
-
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
23.00
15
562.00
1900
1850
-15.56
Cachar(ASM)
20.00
NC
1450.00
2700
2700
NC
Haldibari(WB)
20.00
NC
656.50
2350
2350
-11.32
Yusufpur(UP)
18.00
-48.57
605.00
1930
1920
0.52
Kolaghat(WB)
18.00
NC
474.00
2300
2300
-8.00
Lakhimpur(UP)
17.00
21.43
147.00
2140
2170
0.71
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
17.00
6.25
526.00
2300
2300
9.52
Sirsa(UP)
16.50
NC
432.50
2070
2080
0.49
Jahanabad(UP)
15.80
5.33
250.80
2170
2200
13.02
Tinsukia(ASM)
15.00
NC
115.00
2250
2200
-10.00
Kannauj(UP)
14.50
11.54
321.00
2185
2185
0.23
Firozabad(UP)
14.00
NC
531.00
2060
2070
3.52
Champadanga(WB)
14.00
40
714.00
2350
2350
-9.62
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
12.30
-15.75
216.50
3250
3250
NC
Dibrugarh(ASM)
12.10
-32.78
994.40
2400
2400
-
Pukhrayan(UP)
12.00
9.09
176.50
2045
2040
-6.19
Tanakpur(Utr)
12.00
-60
223.10
1900
1950
-5.00
Nilagiri(Ori)
9.00
12.5
359.00
2300
2300
4.55
Sheoraphuly(WB)
9.00
-5.26
344.50
2700
2675
NC
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
7.90
-60.89
1234.20
1900
1900
-
Chengannur(Ker)
7.50
NC
454.50
2400
2400
-4.00
Bolangir(Ori)
7.50
-6.25
193.50
2200
2200
-8.33
Tusura(Ori)
7.50
7.14
189.00
2200
2200
-8.33
Bhivandi(Mah)
7.00
NC
260.00
2580
2540
66.45
Khairagarh(UP)
7.00
-30
317.00
2100
2070
5.53
Muradabad(UP)
7.00
-22.22
438.70
2300
2270
13.58
Karanjia(Ori)
6.50
8.33
219.30
2600
2600
4.00
Mirzapur(UP)
6.50
8.33
1201.50
1940
1945
-1.52
Palghar(Mah)
4.00
-76.47
535.00
2003
3170
-45.51
Imphal(Man)
3.30
NC
171.60
2900
2900
NC
Alibagh(Mah)
3.00
NC
108.00
4000
4000
150.00
Mangaon(Mah)
3.00
200
28.00
2800
2800
NC
Murud(Mah)
3.00
NC
180.00
3000
3750
87.50
Rahama(Ori)
2.40
-2.04
29.26
2500
2450
13.64
Aroor(Ker)
2.00
-33.33
153.70
7000
6400
-5.41
Siyana(UP)
2.00
33.33
67.50
2055
2050
0.24
Lamlong Bazaar(Man)
1.40
NC
54.00
2900
2900
NC
Kasipur(WB)
1.10
-15.38
25.30
2100
2100
-8.70
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)
1.00
NC
94.10
2000
2000
-9.09
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/topics/tag/rice-commodity/52307/


APEDA RICE COMMODITY NEWS
                  
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 04-04-2016
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Rice
1
India 5% broken
380
2
India parboiled 5% broken stxd
355
3
India 100% broken stxd
280
Raisins
1
Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)
2253
2
South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t)
2320
Sultanas
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
3020
2
South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t)
2715
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
1725
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 02-04-2016
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
2700
3700
2
Umared (Maharashtra)
Other
2000
3500
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Common
1760
1790
Wheat
1
Dehgam (Gujarat)
Other
1435
1635
2
Shajapur (Madhya Pradesh)
Other
1525
1651
3
Sangli (Maharashtra)
Other
1950
2700
Grapes
1
Thodupuzha (Kerala)
Other
2600
2800
2
Bharuch (Gujarat)
Other
2000
3500
3
Kurali (Punjab)
Other
3500
3897
Brinjal
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
1300
1500
2
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
1200
1600
3
Khatra (West Bengal)
Other
1200
1500
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 06-04-2016
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
335
2
Nagapur
300
3
Namakkal
350
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 05-04-2016
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 40 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Peru
Yellow
20
21
2
Chicago
Mexico
Yellow
21
24
2
Detroit
Texas
Yellow
22
25.50
Cabbage
Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Florida
Round Green Type
11
12
2
Dallas
Mexico
Round Green Type
11
11
3
Detroit
Canada
Round Green Type
14
14.50
Grapefruit
Package: 4/5 bushel cartons
1
Atlanta
Florida
Red 
17
18.75
2
Chicago
Florida
Red 
24
26
3
Miami
Florida
Red 
11
12
Source:USDA