20th may 2017 daily global regional local national rice e newsletter by ricpelus magazine

Daily Global Rice

E-Newsletter

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May 20,2017 Vol 8 Issue V

Today Rice News Headlines...  Disaster Aid Available through FSA Program  USDA RMA Promotes Practical to Replant Guidance Document  Pakistan’s rice exporters delegation signs MoU with JCCI  Asia Rice: Thai, Vietnam Prices Hit Multi-Month High; India Stays Sluggish  Basmati boom has India’s LT Foods seeking growth in Europe, Middle East  Retaining food security  Cambodia to export more rice to China  CARICOM to review import taxes  Philippines likely to import more rice from VN  Asia Rice-Thai, Vietnam prices hit multi-month high; India stays sluggish  NFA urged to buy rice from farmers  China emerges as Vietnam’s largest fragrant rice importer

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News Detail...

Disaster Aid Available through FSA Program

By Josh Hankins WASHINGTON, DC -- The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) helps farmers repair damage to farmlands caused by natural disasters by offering financial assistance. Eligible practices that could be beneficial to many in flooded areas include debris removal from farmland, and grading, shaping, or leveling land.

To determine if you qualify for assistance, contact your local FSA office as soon as possible.

Eligibility may require field inspections before any work is done. Go here for more information about the program.

USDA RMA Promotes Practical to Replant Guidance Document

By Ben Mosely

WASHINGTON, DC - In light of recent severe flooding in the mid-South and parts of Louisiana, many growers have questions about Practical to Replant provisions. USDA's Risk

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Management Agency (RMA) is offering guidance in an attempt to clarify the rules and regulations. As always, growers should work with their specific agents and consultants to ensure their specific circumstances are being addressed.

Here is a link to the RMA guidance document.

Pakistan’s rice exporters delegation signs MoU with JCCI ARAB NEWS | Published — Friday 19 May 2017

The 14-member joint delegation of REAP and Pak-Saudi Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PSJCCI) is visiting Saudi Arabia from May 11-19.

The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a long-term collaboration.Mazen Batterjee, vice chairman of the JCCI, along with its members of the food committee, welcomed the rice exporters’ delegation from Pakistan before the signing ceremony.Batterjee said such visits are necessary to increase bilateral trade, commerce and investment and that the MoU is a milestone toward achieving this objective.

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He assured the JCCI’s support toward efforts of the Pakistani Consulate in achieving this goal.

Shah Jahan Malik, vice chairman of REAP, who is heading the Pakistani delegation, said the visit was fruitful. He expressed confidence that they would be able to increase their share in the Saudi market.

The exporters were in Jeddah on the first leg of their visit to the Kingdom. The 14-member joint delegation of REAP and Pak-Saudi Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PSJCCI) is visiting Saudi Arabia from May 11 to 19 as part of trade promotion activities to increase export of rice to the Kingdom.

The delegation members visited major supermarkets and hypermarkets, and held meetings with their top management officials. They also met with major Saudi rice importers in the western region in a one-onone business networking session organized by the Pakistani Consulate.

Mian Mehmood, president of the PSJCCI, said: “Saudi Arabia is our major trading partner in the food sector. It imports over $1 billion worth of rice every year, providing great opportunities for our rice exporters and REAP to further increase the share of Pakistani rice in this market.”

He added that the PSJCCI is playing a vital role in promoting trade in all sectors between the two countries.

Pakistani Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan expressed hope that the exporters will fully utilize the opportunities being offered by the Saudi market and make the rice export trade successful. http://www.arabnews.com/node/1101671/corporate-news

Asia Rice: Thai, Vietnam Prices Hit MultiMonth High; India Stays Sluggish Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

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Bangkok/Hanoi. Rice prices hit multi-month peak in Thailand and Vietnam this week on export prospects, while high rates in India kept buyers at bay, traders said on Thursday (18/05).

Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice rose this week to $385-$411 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $387-$392 last week. At a mean of $398 per tonne, Thai rice prices hit their highest in nine months, Reuters data showed.Traders said as Thai exporters are still buying stocks to fill shipments, heightened expectations of more demand from some of the world's top importers also helped prices to surge.

Last week, Bangladesh's state grains buyer said they will import 600,000 tonnes of rice. It has already issued two tenders for a total of 100,000 tonnes of rice.

"Exporters continue to sell, ships are still being loaded, and big buyers are now coming in," said a Bangkok-based trader.

"If buyers keep purchasing, prices will keep increasing," said another trader from Bangkok.

Vietnam's 5-percent broken rice was quoted at $365-370 a tonne, FOB Saigon, up from $355$360 last week, following the trend in Thailand.

Averaging $367.50 per tonne, Vietnamese rice prices are at an 11-month high, according to Reuters data.

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Anticipating more demand from leading importing countries, Vietnam traders are storing rice in order to sell later as prices advance.

"People expect demand to jump further so they are not rushing to sell now," said a Ho Chi Minhbased trader.

Vietnam shipped an estimated 1.84 million tonnes of the grain between January and April, down 8.8 percent from the same period last year.

Thailand and Vietnam are the world's second- and third-biggest rice exporters.

In India, the world's biggest rice exporter, 5-percent broken parboiled rice prices eased by $3 per tonne to $391-$396 a tonne this week on sluggish export demand.

In the past two months, there has been a sharp rise in Indian rates on government buying and as appreciation in the rupee caused a rally in local paddy prices.

The rupee has risen more than 5 percent so far this year and is trading near its highest level in 21 months. A strong rupee trims returns of exporters, who cannot afford to cut prices.

"African buyers are shifting to Vietnam. Indian rice is not competitive at the current price level," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

India mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East.

The Indian government buys rice from local farmers at a fixed price to supply subsidized food and meet any emergency needs such as a sudden spike in prices.

The government has bought 36 million tonnes rice from farmers so far in 2016/17, up 24 percent from a year ago. http://agriculture.einnews.com/article/381900426/MdzVt_FQiRFLmwan?lcf=mfbGzFqDS4bNQ1jDta8o RvPjgESunH4NfqaGB2CDatA%3D

Basmati boom has India’s LT Foods seeking growth in Europe, Middle East LT Foods looks at Europe and Middle East for expansion as it seeks to capitalize on surging demand for basmati rice

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Pratik Parija

Basmati rice accounts for about 38% of total rice consumption in the Middle East, 4.4% in Europe, 1.3% in the US and 1.2% in Asia.News Delhi: LT Foods Ltd is targeting Europe and the Middle East for expansion after conquering the US market as one of India’s biggest basmati rice processors seeks to capitalize on surging demand for the aromatic grain.

Shares of LT Foods have more than doubled this year as the half-century old commodity trader increases focus on branded foods to exploit changing consumer desires in India and abroad. “We want to concentrate and increase sales of our branded products, especially in the US and Europe, as we see huge potential there� and in the Middle East, Ashwani Arora, joint managing director, said on Monday in an interview in New Delhi.

The Mumbai-listed firm bought the Gold Seal Indus Valley and Rozana rice brands from Hindustan Unilever Ltd last year to strengthen its presence in the Middle East. It purchased the 817 Elephant brand in July to further boost sales in markets like the US and Canada, and is setting up a plant in Rotterdam to cater to Europe, Arora said.

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“We want to be recognized as a food company, not a commodity trader,” said Arora, whose family started the business as a grains trader in the 1950s and set up its first rice mill in 1978.

“The trend is health plus convenience. We are following that trend and developing our whole product range based on the theme.”

Although it has captured more than 50% of the basmati rice market in the US, it’s share in the Middle East and European markets is nominal, according to the company, which also sells rice brands such as Daawat, Royal, and Hadeel.

LT Foods and Japan’s Kameda Seika Co. set up a joint venture in November to manufacture and market rice-based snacks in India. The Indian firm also joined hands with Future Group in December to process and sell south Indian rice.

Basmati rice Basmati rice accounts for about 38% of total rice consumption in the Middle East, 4.4% in Europe, 1.3% in the US and 1.2% in Asia, according to a company presentation.

LT expects revenue will almost double to $1 billion by 2020 from an estimated Rs32 billion ($500 million) in the year ended 31 March, Arora said. Improvements in procurement, processing, sales and distribution should help lift operating profit as a percentage of revenue to 15% in the coming years from 12%, he said.

Rising income in India has encouraged consumers to shift to modern convenience stores from mom-and-pop shops, boosting demand for branded rice and pulses. Branded products account for 26% of total basmati sales in the country, according to the company.

LT Foods annually sells about 200,000 tonnes of branded basmati rice in India, capturing a market share of 20%, he said. Branded packaged rice accounts for about two-thirds of its sales, while trading and value added products such as organic cereals and brown rice make up the rest, Arora said.

The company, which competes with firms such as KRBL Ltd and Kohinoor Foods Ltd, is aiming to increase its annual rice processing volumes to 500,000 tonnes in two years from 400,000 tonnes by outsourcing mills owned by others, Arora said.

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Ajay Thakur, an analyst with Anand Rathi Securities Pvt, said in a report in February that the company’s stock valuations were inexpensive and the rising share of its branded business, cost efficiency-led margin gains and better inventory management were expected to drive greater free cash flow and return ratios. He has a buy rating on the stock.

“We don’t want to make a fresh capital expenditure and we will outsource because there are a lot of idle capacities that are available,” Arora said. “We are keen on spending money on branding and advertising our products. The focus is to invest in brands and markets.” Bloomberg http://www.livemint.com/Companies/0qEoKz1F6N1u9VrAdh3PIJ/Basmati-boom-has-Indias-LT-Foodsseeking-growth-in-Europe.html

Retaining food security Rahman Jahangir

A hostile nature this year has forced Bangladesh to go for import of rice although the country has long been acclaimed by the international community for its food security. Onrush of flood waters from the upstream in vast Haor (wetlands) areas has sapped the vitals of the country so far as food availability is concerned. The importance of food in ensuring development and social stability does hardly need any mention and the government has always been aware of this fact.

This year too, arrangements are now being made to import food grains to meet the gap caused by catastrophic damage to paddy crops due to flash floods.

Boro crops on 219,840 hectares of land in all the Haors in Sunamganj and Moulvibazar districts, such as Tanguar, Dekar, Shonir, Pagnar and Hakaluki, have been totally damaged by the recent flash floods. Besides, several thousand hectares of paddy have been damaged due to blast diseases in Barisal, Satkhira, Jessore, Khulna, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Bogra, Naogaon, Gaibandha, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Jhenidah districts. Earlier, a production target of 19.1 million tonnes of rice was set this year, but now the officials expect it to be around 18.0 million tonnes.

Both official and unofficial sources say there might be a shortfall of rice by about 1.5 million tonnes this year. Against this backdrop, the Food Ministry has decided to import 6,00,000 tonnes of rice. The Directorate of Food recently floated a tender to import 50,000 tonnes of rice as part of the procurement. According to a ministry statement, the government warehouses have a stock of around 487,140 tonnes of foodgrains-262,274 tonnes of rice and 224,866 tonnes of wheat. The warehouses had stock of 800,000 tonnes of food grain in April last year. The government stopped importing rice in 2011 after becoming a food-sufficient country with local production. As a result, only private traders have been importing a small quantity of rice to meet the country's demand for fine rice.

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For the first time, Bangladesh exported around 50,000 metric tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka in 2015.

With this export, Bangladesh quite justifiably claimed to have become a food exporting country.

But the long queues before trucks selling Open Market Sale (OMS) programme point to severe hardship middle and fixed income groups of people face today due to soaring prices of rice. The OMS with highly subsidised grains is just a peanut compared to the demand of the vast majority living in both urban and rural areas now simply reeling from severe food inflation.

Zahid Hussain, lead economist of the World Bank's Dhaka office, found the rise in food inflation in large increases in rice prices. He attributed the rice price spiral to increased tariff on rice imports, decline in public rice stock that has limited the government's ability to contain price hikes through market-based interventions, and production losses due to early flash floods in Haor areas. In fiscal 2016-17, the government hiked the import duty on rice from 10 per cent to 25 per cent. On the other hand, rice stocks at public warehouses stood at 4,90,000 tonnes at the end of March this year-- down 43.7 per cent from a year earlier, according to data from the food ministry.

Rice prices matter most in Bangladesh as 70 per cent people live in rural areas where agriculture is the major occupation. Almost 60 per cent of rural households are engaged in farming. The farming household can access their food from self-production and/or trading the surplus with other foods available in the local market. But the landownership is unequally distributed, and so is the access to food from self-production.

Almost 30 per cent of the households do not own any land and another 35 per cent own only up to half an acre. Such tiny landownership is insufficient to meet the food needs of the households, whatever advanced technology the farmer would use, Dr Mahabub Hossain, a celebrated farm economist found. He said a tenancy market is in operation that provides access to land for landless and marginal landowners for farming. But the terms and conditions of tenancy do not favour tenants. So, a large proportion of marginal farmers go to the market to access food as their own production after payment of rent and interest for loans is inadequate to meet the household need.

The government, in close consultations with agricultural scientists and experts, should immediately draw up an effective long-term strategy to deal with the crucial issue of food security in the face of climate change. There must be preparedness in all relevant fronts to deal with floods and droughts before such conditions threaten to disrupt food security. Timing of cultivation of paddy and wheat has to be re-set after close monitoring so that production of these two staples does not come under any strains in the future.

True, the government has given high priority to the safety nets for ensuring food security.

Currently nearly 2.2 per cent of the GDP are allocated for safety nets and social protection. But an evaluation of the programmes, however, reveals several limitations: a) large overheads due to operation of a large number of small programmes by different ministry often with the same objectives, b) improper targeting of beneficiary households, and c) leakages in implementation.

All these have to be re-evaluated on an emergency basis to meet the exigencies due to freaks of nature in order to bail the hard-hit population out of temporary shortages. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/05/19/70913/Retaining-food-security

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Cambodia to export more rice to China May 19, 2017 - by Eric Schroeder

WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — China is expected to become a bigger export market for Cambodian rice, with reports suggesting China will import 200,000 tonnes of rice per year from Cambodia, according to a May 15 report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA said Cambodia’s rice millers have shifted their attention to the expanding Chinese market in light of new rules in the European Union that have tightened the residue limit of tricyclazole on rice. Cambodian rice farmers commonly use tricyclazole to control rice blast fungus, but effective June 2017 the E.U. said it will implement a new threshold of tricyclazole residue for white rice — 0.01 mg per kg of paddy — and in December 2017 will implement a new tricyclazole residue level for fragrant rice — at 0.01 mg per kg.

“Amid rice millers’ concern of the E.U.’s potential ban on Cambodian rice that fails to meet the chemical residue threshold, the government of Cambodia is looking into substitute options and raising awareness of farmers on proper usage of fungicides,” the USDA said.

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Cambodia exported a total of 542,144 tonnes of milled rice in 2016, up 0.7% from 2015. China was the largest destination, importing 127,460 tonnes, a figure that is forecast to grow to 200,000 in 2017, the USDA said. The increase in demand from China is expected to outpace the potential decline in demand from traditional E.U. buyers.

“Last December, China National Cereals, Oils, and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) approved 18 Cambodian rice millers for exporting rice to China as part of an agreement signed between COFCO and the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF),” the USDA said. “Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (MAFF) selected 28 rice millers who have demonstrated competence to meet the requirements for exporting rice into China. The CRF is urging the government to facilitate more access to the China market to offset potential decrease demand from E.U. “The cross border rice trade is a vital pathway for Cambodia rice export into Thailand and Vietnam. However, Thailand’s reduction in stock and a production recovery this year show no signs of an increase in import demand. Meanwhile, the cross border trade with Vietnam is robust mostly because of strong demand for Cambodian rice to serve local Vietnamese consumers who prefer quality fragrant rice.”

Overall milled rice exports are forecast to increase 5% to 570,000 tonnes in 2017, and 8% to 615,000 tonnes in 2018, the USDA said. http://www.worldgrain.com/articles/news_home/World_Grain_News/2017/05/Cambodia_to_export_more_rice_t.aspx?ID= {622D959C-1350-4714-8FBC-88DC91742CC8}&cck=1

CARICOM to review import taxes

By Bert Wilkinson

The 15-nation Caribbean trade bloc is undertaking a complete review of its import taxes regime into the regional free market including poultry and agriculture products from the United States in the wake of a plethora of requests from governments and the private sector to periodically suspend tariffs to correct shortages of items in various member states.

The bloc has hired an international consulting firm to “undertake a rather comprehensive look” at the common external tariff governing the importation of products not manufactured in the region.

Part of the reason for this stems for pressure from governments and the private sector for suspensions or waivers of duties to the council of trade ministers (COTED) for particular products to make up for shortfalls of materials or finished products in particular countries.

“Some of these requests for suspensions are for lengthy periods sometimes so this review will inform us how to go forward,” said regional trade chief Joseph Cox.

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The study is expected to be completed by September and will be reviewed by the trade ministers grouping before being handed to leaders at their mid year summit in the first quarter of next year.

The review comes as regional governments are also casting their minds to negotiating some kind of free trade arrangement or system to govern tariffs for two way trade with Britain now that it has voted to leave the European Union (EU).This is so because trade with an European Union of which Britain is a member would normally be governed by the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which had replaced the Lome and Cotonou conventions relating to trade and aid relations between Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) group of nations.

But once Britain leaves, there will be no system governing trade.Carl Greenidge, a Guyanese vice president, finance minister and former head of the Caribbean regional negotiating machinery said the region needs to move fast to get a “transitional arrangement” with Britain in the coming months.“Now that Britain is proposing to leave the EPA we have now to deal with Britain as a new arena into which we want to get products and therefore we have to see with them what may be done with the tariffs that had been abolished when Britain was in the European Union. That transition has implications for those who supply the United Kingdom with products such as sugar in Guyana, and for those who purchase United Kingdom goods which also applies to Guyana,” said Greenidge.

Britain accounts for 22 percent of Caribbean overall exports to Europe that also include rice, bananas, rum and other products.Britain last year voted to quit the European Union of which it was a key and founding member http://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2017/5/2017-05-26-bw-caricom-import-taxes-cl.html

Philippines likely to import more rice from VN Update: May, 18/2017 - 15:00

Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The Philippines is likely to import an additional 250,000 tonnes of rice from Việt Nam and Thailand. The Philippines government on Tuesday said the country would import more rice to boost its stocks ahead of the lean harvest season.The National Food Authority Council did not specify the quantity, but demand from the Philippines, one of the world’s largest rice importers, could underpin prices in Thailand and Việt Nam -- its main suppliers and major exporters.

The National Food Authority had been seeking the council’s approval to import 250,000 tonnes under government-to-government schemes with Việt Nam and Thailand. The committee that decides on the quantity to be imported will meet on Thursday.

The NFA also announced it would shift from government-to-government importation to government-to-private importation to make the bidding more competitive, transparent and less corrupt.

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Rice inventory in the Philippines is running low, with government stockpiles shrinking to the least in more than three years in April, just enough to cover 10 days of the national requirement.

http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/376666/philippines-likely-to-import-more-rice-fromvn.html#3TtjCLkewCVkEG3h.97

Asia Rice-Thai, Vietnam prices hit multi-month high; India stays sluggish COMPANY NEWS | Thu May 18, 2017 | 4:08pm IST * Thai upward price trend continues on ongoing demand, export prospects * Vietnamese traders store rice, anticipate more gains * India's high prices slow down trade, turn away main buyers

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and My Pham BANGKOK/HANOI, May 18 Rice prices hit multi-month peak in Thailand and Vietnam this week on export prospects, while high rates in India kept buyers at bay, traders said on Thursday.

Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 rose this week to $385-$411 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $387-$392 last week. At a mean of $398 per tonne, Thai rice prices hit their highest in nine months, Reuters data showed.

Traders said as Thai exporters are still buying stocks to fill shipments, heightened expectations of more demand from some of the world's top importers also helped prices to surge.

Last week, Bangladesh's state grains buyer said they will import 600,000 tonnes of rice. It has already issued two tenders for a total of 100,000 tonnes of rice.

"Exporters continue to sell, ships are still being loaded, and big buyers are now coming in," said a Bangkok-based trader.

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"If buyers keep purchasing, prices will keep increasing," said another trader from Bangkok.

Vietnam's 5-percent broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 was quoted at $365-370 a tonne, FOB Saigon, up from $355-$360 last week, following the trend in Thailand.

Averaging $367.50 per tonne, Vietnamese rice prices are at an 11-month high, according to Reuters data.

Anticipating more demand from leading importing countries, Vietnam traders are storing rice in order to sell later as prices advance.

"People expect demand to jump further so they are not rushing to sell now," said a Ho Chi Minh-based trader.

Vietnam shipped an estimated 1.84 million tonnes of the grain between January and April, down 8.8 percent from the same period last year.

Thailand and Vietnam are the world's second- and third-biggest rice exporters.

In India, the world's biggest rice exporter, 5-percent broken parboiled rice prices RIINBKN5-P1 eased by $3 per tonne to $391-$396 a tonne this week on sluggish export demand.

In the past two months, there has been a sharp rise in Indian rates on government buying and as appreciation in the rupee caused a rally in local paddy prices.

The rupee has risen more than 5 percent so far this year and is trading near its highest level in 21 months. A strong rupee trims returns of exporters, who cannot afford to cut prices.

"African buyers are shifting to Vietnam. Indian rice is not competitive at the current price level," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

India mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East.

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The Indian government buys rice from local farmers at a fixed price to supply subsidised food and meet any emergency needs such as a sudden spike in prices.

The government has bought 36 million tonnes rice from farmers so far in 2016/17, up 24 percent from a year ago. (Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat in BANGKOK and My Pham in HANOI; Additional reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) http://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice-idINL4N1IK1T3

NFA urged to buy rice from farmers

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat and My Pham BANGKOK/HANOI, May 18 Rice prices hit multi-month peak in Thailand and Vietnam this week on export prospects, while high rates in India kept buyers at bay, traders said on Thursday.Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 rose this week to $385-$411 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $387-$392 last week. At a mean of $398 per tonne, Thai rice prices hit their highest in nine months, Reuters data showed.Traders said as Thai exporters are still buying stocks to fill shipments, heightened expectations of more demand from some of the world's top importers also helped prices to surge.

Last week, Bangladesh's state grains buyer said they will import 600,000 tonnes of rice. It has already issued two tenders for a total of 100,000 tonnes of rice."Exporters continue to sell, ships are still being loaded, and big buyers are now coming in," said a Bangkok-based trader."If buyers keep purchasing, prices will keep increasing," said another trader from Bangkok.

Vietnam's 5-percent broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 was quoted at $365-370 a tonne, FOB Saigon, up from $355-$360 last week, following the trend in Thailand.Averaging $367.50 per tonne, Vietnamese rice prices are at an 11-month high, according to Reuters data.Anticipating more demand from leading importing countries, Vietnam traders are storing rice in order to sell later as prices advance.

"People expect demand to jump further so they are not rushing to sell now," said a Ho Chi Minh-based trader.Vietnam shipped an estimated 1.84 million tonnes of the grain between January and April, down 8.8 percent from the same period last year.

Thailand and Vietnam are the world's second- and third-biggest rice exporters.In India, the world's biggest rice exporter, 5-percent broken parboiled rice prices RI-INBKN5-P1 eased by $3 per tonne to $391-$396 a tonne this week on sluggish export demand.In the past two months, there has been a sharp rise in Indian rates on government buying and as appreciation in the rupee caused a rally in local paddy prices.

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17 The rupee has risen more than 5 percent so far this year and is trading near its highest level in 21 months.

A strong rupee trims returns of exporters, who cannot afford to cut prices."African buyers are shifting to Vietnam. Indian rice is not competitive at the current price level," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.India mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East.

The Indian government buys rice from local farmers at a fixed price to supply subsidised food and meet any emergency needs such as a sudden spike in prices.The government has bought 36 million tonnes rice from farmers so far in 2016/17, up 24 percent from a year ago. (Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat in BANGKOK and My Pham in HANOI; Additional reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips http://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice-idINL4N1IK1T3

China emerges as Vietnam’s largest fragrant rice importer China, already the largest importer of Vietnam’s sticky rice, has emerged as the biggest buyer of Vietnamese fragrant rice, according to exporters.

Farmers are seen harvesting rice in the Mekong Delta

Last month Vietnam exported over 140,000 tons of fragrant rice, with 36% of it going to the Chinese market, which made China the largest importer of this kind of grain.Ivory Coast and Ghana were the second and third largest importers of Vietnamese fragrant rice last month with each buying about 30,000 tons. Singapore and Malaysia were also among the top fragrant rice markets of Vietnam in April but their import volumes were insignificant.

The country’s total fragrant rice exports in January-April amounted to over 355,000 tons, with China alone accounting for a staggering 46%. Ivory Coast, Ghana, Malaysia and Singapore were also major importers of Vietnamese fragrant rice in the first four months of the year.China is also known as Vietnam’s largest glutinous rice importer. Last year glutinous rice shipments to China amounted to over 940,000 tons, accounting for over 90% of the total.

According to data of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), although Vietnamese rice exports to China in 2016 inched down against the previous year, the northern neighbor remained Vietnam’s largest rice importer.Last year saw rice exports to China amounting to 1.8 million tons, representing nearly 37% of the nation’s total but dipping nearly 20% compared to 2015.A Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development report said Vietnam’s January-April rice exports reached over 1.8 million tons, with China accounting for over 40%. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/178656/china-emerges-as-vietnam-s-largest-fragrant-riceimporter.html

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