21st april ,2017 daily globa regional & local rice e newsletter

Daily Global Rice

E-Newsletter

1

April 21,2017 Vol 8 Issue IV

Today Rice News Headlines...               

P289M shipments no NFA permit: Customs holds ‘smuggled’ rice USA Rice Carves Out a Niche in Korea with New Products BSP sees end of rice QRs helping ease inflation Villanueva: Unli-rice pa more?

China yet to give okay to eight rice traders Import more rice...

Basmati sowing likely to go up 25% in FY18 on high demand, normal monsoon Asia Rice-Prices up in Thailand on thin supply, India on firm rupee Focus buying rice aggressively nfa told Rice prices may rise if imports halted: economist Over 92% of VN’s rice export in Q1 under firms’ deals Ghana can halt rice importation – Percival Ampomah Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- April 18, 2017 1.62m tonnes approved for rice auction After Evasco, Go meeting, will NFA issue be resolved soon?

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com Monitor Latest Updates on www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

2

News Detail...

P289M shipments no NFA permit: Customs holds ‘smuggled’ rice

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman) | Updated April 21, 2017 - 12:00am

Being one of the busiest ports in the country, Cebu International Port also becomes a venue for some unscrupulous people to sneak in contrabands. Jay Rommel Labra

CEBU, Philippines - An estimated P289 million worth of rice shipments from Vietnam, Pakistan, and Thailand were held by the Bureau of Customs at the Cebu International Port for lack of permit from the National Food Authority.

Verne Enciso, officer-in-charge of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services-Cebu, said the shipments were consigned to Pilmico Foods Corporation; Hutchison 1 Logistics Inc.; Awards Cargo Agency Phils. Inc.; and Matibay Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

"The absence of the NFA import permit makes the rice shipment as contraband shipment or smuggled. Continuing ang pag-verify ng office natin on the arrival of rice shipments without the

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

3

required NFA permit," said Enciso.The 144,000 bags of rice shipments arrived at the CIP on March 1, 2, 7, and 8 in 289x20-footer container vans. Most of the shipments consigned to Pilmico Foods Corporation came from Vietnam and Pakistan. There were also 34x30-footer container vans consigned to Matibay Multi-Purpose Cooperative that came from Thailand.

Enciso said he has recommended to BOC-Cebu district collector Elvira Cruz the issuance of Warrant of Seizure and Detention. Cruz, however, said she could not immediately issue the WSD without subjecting the shipments to abandonment proceedings.

The shipments, however, will not be converted into government revenue because of the existing Executive Order mandating that all seized rice shipment shall be donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. "So, once it will (be) confiscated in favor of the government hindi yan magiging revenue ng Customs," Enciso said.

NFA administrator Jason Aquino earlier issued a notice to all rice importers that all importations under the Minimum Access Volume program ended on February 28. The notice dated February 20 was sent to Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon for appropriate action. The commissioner issued a memorandum on March 7 directing all district collectors to seize rice shipment except from Pakistan and India.

The non-extension of the Minimum Access Volume program has created controversy within the NFA resulting in the termination of Undersecretary Halmen Valdez.Valdez was under the Office of Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, chairman of the NFA Council, who opposed the nonextension of the MAV program.But despite the non-extension of the MAV program, Aquino himself issued three import permits beyond February 28.

According to information, he allowed rice importations from Vietnam by JVV Ex/Import, Kakampi Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Villa Shipping Lines Inc. Enciso said that part of the shipment arrived in Cebu last week of March. However, only 19,000 bags of the 61,600 bags were discharged from the vessel."Yung vessel hindi siya naka-docked but yung discharging niya is via shipside discharging thru a barge," Enciso said.He said they could not confiscate the shipment since it has import permit from NFA. "This is the shipment na sinasabi ni Usec Valdez na binigyan ng permit ni Aquino tapos yung iba hindi binigyan," Enciso said.

Aquino used to be with the Bureau of Customs as chief of staff of Customs Deputy Commissioner Jesse Dellosa but was terminated because of his alleged involvement in the „taraâ€&#x; system. (FREEMAN)

http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2017/04/21/1692461/p289m-shipments-no-nfa-permitcustoms-holds-smuggled-rice

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

4

USA Rice Carves Out a Niche in Korea with New Products

By Jim Guinn

SEOUL, KOREA -- In the latest of a slew of new food and snack products that use U.S.-grown rice is a new convenience package of "Army Stew," a Korean-style spicy soup containing kimchi, sausage, ham, rice cakes, and ramen noodles. The rice cakes are produced using rice flour originating from U.S. rice. Many snacks and food items containing rice flour have emerged on the market here within the last year.

Two years ago, when Korea first implemented tariffication, whereby the purchase of rice for table use was no longer guaranteed by Korea's World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, USA Rice began discussions and held technical meetings with the rice flour users and rice flour processors here to gain more interest in U.S. rice as a processed food ingredient.

The overall strategy consisted of: 1) reminding rice product manufacturers and foodservice that

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

5

U.S. rice is high in quality, reliable, and appealing to their customers through menu presentation seminars; 2) encouraging and supporting the launch of new U.S rice menus; and 3) building an appreciation for U.S. rice among Korean food media and consumers via traditional consumer promotions.

USA Rice kicked off the food ingredient promotion with a rice cake project that encouraged rice flour processors to test U.S. medium grain rice for their operations and ultimately change the origin of their rice flour products to the U.S. from either domestic or Chinese rice.

Steadily, many food manufacturers have launched new U.S. rice-based food products and some changed rice flour sources to use U.S. rice.

"According to noodle product manufacturers, Korean customers prefer the chewy texture of noodles and rice flour made with U.S. rice," said Hugh Maginnis, vice president of international for USA Rice. "So our efforts are paying dividends and we are poised to potentially grow our presence here - something that remained unclear when the government announced plans to move to tarrification." http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/167517-jun-evasco-bong-go-meeting-nfa-issue

BSP sees end of rice QRs helping ease inflation April 21, 2017

THE GOVERNMENT must find a way to support local farmers to cushion the blow from the influx of cheap rice, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said as it backed the lifting of rice import restrictions by July.

A worker climbs stacks of rice at a warehouse of the National Food Authority in Manila in this May 12, 2016 photo. -- Reuters

highlights

of

the

BSP‟s

latest

policy

review

“The Monetary Board noted that the removal of quantitative restrictions on rice importation will have beneficial effects on inflation. Enhancing economic efficiencies in the rice supply chain would translate to rice affordability for consumers, including farmers,” read the which was published yesterday.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

6

The officials were referring to the quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports, a preferential trade deal secured by the Philippines since 1995 that seeks to guard local farmers from cheaper supply from abroad. The latest extension will lapse by end-June.The Monetary Board kept interest rates unchanged during its March 23 meeting, with inflation seen to remain manageable over the coming year despite a faster climb in prices observed during the past few months.

The BSP‟s decision came a week after a fresh 25-basis-point increase was announced by the Federal Reserve, a move widely expected by the markets.Inflation has averaged 3.2% during the first three months of 2017, still within the central bank‟s 2-4% target band even as price increases have been on an uptrend since November last year. Consumer prices rose by 3.4% in March, the fastest pace in over two years, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said last month that rice, the country‟s staple grain, accounts for nearly a 10th of the consumer basket used to track price movements.Once the QR scheme is lifted, individuals and businesses can import rice but will pay a 35% tariff. This is against the current practice where the National Food Authority (NFA) limits the volume of rice imports every year and imposes higher tariffs on amounts that go beyond the minimum volume set by officials, done to prevent the influx of cheap rice and shield local farmers.

Rice imports have become a sensitive issue among state officials, resulting to a reported rift between Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol and Cabinet Secretary and NFA Council head Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. over conflicting policies.The BSP officials said the national government must ensure that it provides some relief to local farmers who could suffer from the influx of cheaper rice from abroad. “[T]he negative impact on the country‟s agriculture sector of the possible influx of cheaper rice imports should be compensated by a comprehensive government support package that will boost agricultural productivity and increase the competitiveness of the sector,” the report read.Mr. Guinigundo earlier said that import tariffs collected by government should be “funneled back” to the agriculture sector by way of irrigation and farm-to-market roads that would help boost productivity, among others.

The central bank expects inflation to continue rising and peak within the third quarter, with the full-year average likely to settle at 3.4%. Inflation is likely to trend higher for the months ahead, with the BSP citing possible increases in power rates and transportation fares, as well as the “transitory” impact of the tax reform program pending in Congress.Upbeat domestic activity is also expected to be sustained over the near term, allowing the BSP to hold fire on interest rate adjustments as the local economy would not need a fresh stimulus.

The Philippine economy expanded by an upwardly-revised 6.9% in 2016. Growth is expected to hit the government‟s 6.5-7.5% goal this year, with Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

7

M. Pernia saying that the economy likely expanded by “around 7%” during the first quarter.“Latest indicators of domestic demand continue to broadly point to firm growth prospects over the policy horizon,” the BSP added, noting strong figures reported for factory output, car sales, and public spending.Business optimism was also steady during the quarter, supporting overall growth prospects.

The BSP will hold its next policy meeting on May 11, which will again come a week after the Fed‟s two-day review.Economists expect as much as two rate hikes from the BSP this year, which comes at a time of a change in the central bank chief as Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. completes his second and final term by July 2. President Rodrigo R. Duterte has yet to name Mr. Tetangco‟s successor http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=bsp-sees-end-of-rice-qrs-helpingease-inflation&id=144042

Villanueva: Unli-rice pa more?

Thursday, April 20, 2017 By JP VILLANUEVA EKONOMISTA PRESIDENT Duterte ordered the suspension of rice importation in early April supposedly to protect the country‟s farmers. This announcement was made during his visit to farmers in Nueva Ecija where he instructed Secretary Manny Piñol to do the necessary. Rice is a staple food for Filipinos around the world. It is so integrated in our culture, history and of course, diet that our country is even host to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) since 1959. Being host to IRRI brought so much pride to our country then because of leadership in rice science and research.

The Philippines recorded net imports of rice for the longest time. This practice was considered

by Filipinos as embarrassing. This year, the quantitative restriction (QR) which is essentially an import quota on rice will already expire. The QR limits the volume of rice that can be imported by the Philippines annually. Any kind of restriction of trade like tariffs and quotas are protectionist measures.

In this case, QR is intended to protect local rice farmers from cheaper imported rice. In a recent report of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), it was found out that rice that is produced abroad are cheaper than those which are produced domestically. This difference is attributed to the lower cost of palay production in other countries than here in the Philippines.

One reason for this cost difference is geography.

The countries that are exporting rice have wide flat plains watered by large river systems which makes it more suitable for agriculture. Countries like India which has the Ganges River, Thailand which has Chao Phraya, and Vietnam which has Mekong River. Meanwhile, the Philippines is an archipelago, surrounded by oceans which cannot be used for watering agricultural crops.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

8

As a result, the cost particularly in irrigation goes up before enough rice is produced to address the domestic demand. Another reason that makes the cost of rice production here is that there is a collusion within the supply chain, thus creating a rice cartel dictating essentially higher prices.

Inasmuch as we really would like to be self-sufficient especially in rice production, it is not something that is desirable nor practical for the Philippines, according to the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF). FEF suggested is forging a rice security pact with our fellow Asean members to guarantee rice supply in case of a shortage.

This is an alternative to the President‟s call to disallow importation by both private importers and the National Food Authority. However, the PIDS policy report provided two options. The first one was to extend the QR for two more years. This is to give enough time for our rice farmers to become more competitive.

At this point in time, there are subsidies that have increased in amount intended to support farmers, particularly for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). The Department of Agriculture is also undertaking necessary programs for the agricultural sector, including rice production. These are indications that there is sufficient production support for rice and other agricultural products. Why two years? It is because the effect of these policies and programs are not immediate. We may have to wait for a few years before the full effect of the policy changes are felt. We may experience severe shortage of rice if we cut importation immediately without assurance that the rice supply can address the domestic demand. Another option presented by the PIDS is imposition of tariffs.

Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported products. The tariffs collected on the importation of rice should be earmarked to become safety nets for rice farmers, especially to mitigate the adverse effects of the increase in imports like much lower domestic price. Without the QR, importation of cheaper rice will increase thereby pushing the price of rice further down.

This will benefit the consumers but will negatively affect the farmers, that‟s why there are safety nets installed. This is to basically compensate the farmers‟ loss of income.

Bottomline is, despite the seemingly high supply of rice, we are still bound to import rice because the domestic supply cannot suffice the domestic demand. Disallowing importation altogether may result to problems in supply within the country. In the end, we will still import rice and some people who ordered the stop of importation to take their word back because they did not think about it before giving impossible promises to the hopeful farmers. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/opinion/2017/04/20/villanueva-unli-rice-pa-more-537509

China yet to give okay to eight rice traders China has yet to respond to a request made by the Ministry of Agriculture to add another eight local rice traders to the list of 26 that have passed quality control tests to export rice to the Chinese mainland.Eight local rice traders are still waiting to be evaluated by China‟s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine [AQSIQ] despite two requests

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

9

made directly to Beijing by the Ministry,” said Hean Vanhan, director-general of the general directorate of agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture.Mr. Vanhan told Khmer Times that AQSIQ was probably delaying the evaluation because the eight traders did not have their own rice mills.

“From our perspective we want more traders to export rice to China so that our rice exports are boosted,” he added.Mr. Vanhan said the eight rice traders have been advised to sign contracts with the 26 other traders that have rice mills, so that they can qualify to export to China.AQSIQ is a ministerial-level department under the State Council of China that is in charge of national quality, entry-exit commodity inspection, entry-exit health quarantine, entry-exit animal and plant quarantine, import-export food safety, certification and accreditation, standardization, as well as administrative law enforcement.Last December, China asked Cambodia to evaluate its rice exporters to determine whether they adhered to the hygiene laws in China, because officials in the world‟s second largest economy did not trust all of the 71 rice exporters registered with the Ministry of Commerce.

“All of the rice millers they have checked are of high enough quality to meet their requirement.

Therefore only those rice millers are allowed to export rice to China,” Mr. Vanhan said.China is one of Cambodia‟s big markets for milled rice. In September, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen at the sidelines of the Asean Summit in Laos, pledged to double China‟s annual purchase of 100,000 metric tons of Cambodian rice to 200,000 metric tons, starting this year. China also pledged a loan of $300 million to Cambodia‟s rice millers for building warehouses with drying facilities. China also gave assurances that it will grant greater access for Cambodia‟s agricultural products to enter its markets.

Song Saran, president and CEO of AMRU Rice (Cambodia), said on Facebook that he welcomed the ministry‟s move to push for larger rice exports to China.However he expressed concern that rice traders who did not have their own mills wanted to piggy-back on those traders who already passed AQSIQ quality tests.“The Ministry of Agriculture will have a headache if this keeps happening,” he said.China is the biggest single-country market for Cambodia‟s milled rice, and imported about 67,000 metric tons in the first quarter.

HTTP://WWW.KHMERTIMESKH.COM/NEWS/37632/CHINA-YET-TO-GIVE-OKAY-TOEIGHT-RICE-TRADERS/

Import more rice...

By Dahli Aspillera April 21, 2017 MAY 1982. “The US Justice Department is investigating allegations that rice exporting firms bribed officials of the South Korean government in order to sell large quantities of rice at above market prices in 1981 and 1982... causing as much as $10 million in overcharges for South Korea and excess profits for the exporters.”

This is history--1982. But if it‟s lucrative, and it could still be going on. We read that charges

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

10

were made in a lawsuit filed by California rice farmers who brought a court case against PIRMI and AGROPROM, multinational rice dealers.

These multinational rice exporters were accused in 1982 by California rice farmers of bribing the South Korean Office of Supply [the equivalent of our NFA?] “for the favor exporting rice to South Korea, and/or to subsidize future rice sales to South Korea. South Korea is the fourth largest export market for US agricultural goods,” the article tells us.

Named in the suit against the South Korean NFA, which arranges all government imports, was Kim Joo Ho, administrator and CEO of the country‟s Office of Supply. South Korean government mandates that all imported food-grains be sold at subsidized prices, which is why staple food is cheap in South Korea.

In the US Congress, the Agriculture Committee has a Cotton, Rice and Sugar Subcommittee. To this subcommittee, Atty. Joseph Alioto, ex-mayor of San Francisco, explained the suspicions of his clients, the rice farmers: “In October 1981, Korean Office of Supply disclosed that it had purchased 40,000 metric tons of brown rice at $449.90 per metric ton, a price which was $100 per metric ton over the prevailing market price.

“The curious explanation given for the over market price was that the shipment was against an old contract which the supplier had failed to complete during the original delivery period and which, moreover, had been reported to the US Department of Agriculture as having been cancelled... It is a singular event, indeed, when a buyer rewards a seller with millions of dollars for failing to perform on his original obligation.”

Alioto continued, “It appeared that the people of Korea had paid about $4 Million more than was

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

11

necessary on a purchase of rice... they didn‟t want or need.... [South Korean Office of Supply] recently made two more purchases of rice... which will cost the people of Korea at least an extra $6 Million.”

All those 1982 Korean rice importations, “which people didn‟t want or need....” Were bribes again involved? How are the bribes received? How efficiently alert of the US Department of Justice get to know of a very secret deal between the South Korean agency for importing rice and the bribing rice dealers. What kind of a bribe is involved for the cost of one shipload of rice or corn? A brand new Mercedes Benz? A solid gold Rolex watch? Deposits in a specific bank account? The people don‟t know, and can only guess.

No wonder rice execs avoid buying from subsistence rice farmers of Bulacan, Pampanga.

Subsistence farmers would not even think to send as gratitude a bilao of bibingka or a buko pie to the CEO of the Office of Rice Importer. http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/business/wind-farm-generates-power-jobs-tourists

Basmati sowing likely to go up 25% in FY18 on high demand, normal monsoon The industry expects Iran to purchase at least 1 million tonnes this financial year Dilip Kumar Jha | Mumbai April 21, 2017 Last Updated at 00:14 IST IMD's monsoon 2017 forecast today: Agriculture less dependent on rainfallBasmati exporters' scrips rise on high shipment, price outlookKeeping fingers crossed, as IMD's 'normal' monsoon forecast is not finalIMD's monsoon forecast: Too early for markets to run into rough weatherIMD's normal monsoon forecast lifts business sentimentSowing area under basmati paddy is likely to increase by 25 per cent in 2017 on the back of favourable climatic conditions and forecast of normal rainfall this monsoon season.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday forecasted normal rainfall this monsoon at 96 per cent of long period average (LPA) with 5 per cent of plus and minus error.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

12

Late beginning of rainfall coupled with dry spells in some parts of major growing regions resulted into less acreage under basmati paddy last year. Rating agency Icra estimates the area under basmati paddy at 1.6 million hectares for the financial year 2016-17, around 20 per cent decline from the level of 2.1 million hectares in the previous year.

“This year, the area under basmati paddy, however, is estimated to rise at least to the level of 2015-16. There are two major factors which would help farmers to bring in the additional area under basmati this year – favourable monsoon and sharp increase in realisation from basmati rice this year,” said Gurnam Arora, joint managing director, Kohinoor Foods, producer of Kohinoor brand basmati rice. "We are confident that basmati rice production and export would also proportionately go up."

Following a sharp decline in acreage, India‟s basmati rice output is estimated to have declined by over 18 per cent to 8 million tonnes for 2016-17 compared to 9.8 million tonnes in the previous year.

Basmati rice constitutes a small portion of the total rice produced in India. The second advanced estimate of the Ministry of Agriculture estimates India‟s total rice output to hit the new record at 108.86 million tonnes for the year 2016-17 compared to the final output of 104.41 million tonnes for 2015-16.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

13

While Kharif season contributes nearly 88 per cent of India‟s overall output, rabi season shares the rest.

Basmati rice has witnessed growing demand from the domestic market for past few years. The international demand, though has remained weak for the last two years, it is expected to witness some uptick from this year onwards on Iran, the largest importer, coming back on procurement from India again. Basmati rice exports to Iran have started since January–March quarter. The industry expects Iran to purchase at least 1 million tonnes this financial year.

“The Chinese government has identified 14 Indian firms to export basmati rice to that country.

Despite the taste being different for consumers, there has been a growing appetite for Indian basmati rice in China. We expect direct export to China to begin very shortly. Currently, India exports a small quantity of basmati rice to China indirectly through Hong Kong,” said Rajan Sundareshan, executive director of All India Rice Exporters‟ Association . This year, prices of basmati rice have jumped by 50 per cent on the shortage of supply resulting into a proportionate jump in farmers‟ income. So, farmers would be encouraged to bring in more area to fetch better realisation this year.

The basmati rice industry has witnessed moderation over the last few years on the back of subdued international demand, partly attributable to the delay in resumption of imports by Iran.

However, FY17 has seen some stabilisation in demand.

“The industry performance in the current financial year has been encouraging as the growth is supported by an increase in volumetric sales, even while prices have remained under pressure.

Going forward, FY18 is expected to witness better revenue growth supported by an increase in average realisations, as paddy prices firm up during the current procurement season,” said Deepak Jotwani, assistant vice-president, Icra. "Moreover, resumption of imports by Iran will also be crucial for driving industry growth in the next financial year."

After declining considerably during the procurement season in FY16, Basmati paddy prices have firmed up by 20-25 per cent across various varieties, primarily due to relatively lower production, in the recent procurement season (October–December 2016). This is likely to push up basmati rice prices in the next financial year.

Overall, the export volume in FY17 is estimated to be around 4 million tonnes (almost similar to the volumes in FY16). However, muted average realisations are expected to keep the value of these exports under Rs 21,000 crore, against Rs 22,718 crore in FY16 http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/basmati-sowing-likely-to-go-up-25-in-fy18on-high-demand-normal-monsoon-117042000261_1.html

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

14

Asia Rice-Prices up in Thailand on thin supply, India on firm rupee

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Rajendra Jadhav and My Pham BANGKOK/MUMBAI,HANOI, April 20 Rice prices in Thailand rose on thin supply and Indian rates climbed on stronger rupee, while trade in Vietnam remained sluggish, traders said on Thursday.Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 rose this week to $360-$375 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $350-$365 a tonne last week."There is less supply of new rice as we are expecting off-season crops to arrive," a trader in Bangkok said.The hike in prices occurred as the Thai government encouraged rice millers to buy the grain in a bid to prevent an oversupply when new crops are harvested, another Bangkok-based trader said.Thailand has exported over 3.48 million tonnes of rice so far this year until April 18, up 6.4 percent from the year-ago period, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.

The amount it received through exports was more than 51 billion baht ($1.49 billion), the ministry added.The ministry announced on Wednesday that Thailand has sold 1.62 million tonnes of rice from state stockpiles for industrial use from a March auction at $231 million.It also plans to sell 1.03 million more tonnes of spoiled and sub-standard rice in a state auction on April 28.Ever since the military took over power in a 2014 coup, the government offloaded over 12 million tonnes of rice, which were accumulated under a previous civilian government's rice subsidy scheme.At present, this leaves behind about 5 million tonnes in state stockpiles, with 1.72 million tonnes fit for human consumption.

The government said it may clear the stocks by 2017.In India, 5-percent broken parboiled rice RI-INBKN5-P1 rose by $2 to $384-$389 a tonne this week, as paddy prices and rupee gained strength."Local paddy prices are firm. Rupee is also strengthening. This is making Indian rice expensive for overseas buyers," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.So far, the rupee has risen 5.2 percent this year, and is trading near its highest level in 20 months. A strong rupee trims returns of exporters."African buyers are shifting to Vietnam and Thailand due to higher prices in India. We are losing market share," said another exporter based at Kakinada.India, the world's biggest rice exporter, mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East.

In Vietnam, the market maintained a quiet momentum amid low competitive prices, which fall between prices of new and old Thai grain.Prices of the 5-percent broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

15

remained stable at $350-$355 a tonne, FOB Saigon."Customers who focus more on prices will choose old Thai rice as it is cheaper, while buyers who look for quality will choose new Thai rice as it is just a bit higher than Vietnamese rice but of better quality," said a Ho Chi Minh-based trader.Traders expect Vietnam's rice export to be lower this month compared with the same period a year earlier.Thailand and Vietnam are the world's second- and third-biggest rice exporters. (Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat in BANGKOK, Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI, and My Pham in HANOI; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) http://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice-idINL3N1HS3MD

Focus buying rice aggressively nfa told Philippine Daily Inquirer / 12:14 AM April 20, 2017 The time has come for the government to buy palay aggressively as farm gate prices have receded to P17 a kilo, which is within the National Food Authority‟s support price, according to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag).

The umbrella group of farmers and agri-business operators said this should be the priority of the NFA instead of the proposed inspection of warehouses to check on possible hoarding activities.

Sinag was reacting to the statement of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who said he would submit to President Duterte a proposal to create an interagency task group that would investigate on traders who might be taking steps to create an artificial shortage of rice. “Fresh palay is now fetching P17 a kilo,” Sinag chair Rosendo So said. “NFA has to procure to ensure that farmers get a good price, even at the peak of the harvest season.”So said the threat to raid rice warehouses might have a negative effect as legitimate rice traders and millers were now having second thoughts on buying palay as they might be “charged” of hoarding rice.“Traders are being scared off with raids on legitimate traders and millers,” So said. “This will result in the further drop in prices to the disadvantage of farmers.”

The Sinag chair said the proposal needed more explanation, especially on its parameters.“Who will conduct the raids? What is the system for taking inventory? What defines storing as opposed to hoarding?”“We‟re afraid this would end up in selective inspection to favor a certain group of rice traders,” So added.

RONNEL W. DOMINGO

https://business.inquirer.net/227997/focus-buying-rice-aggressively-nfa-told

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

16

Rice prices may rise if imports halted: economist ABS-CBN News Posted at Apr 20 2017 10:33 AM

Watch also in iWantv or TFC.tv http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/04/20/17/rice-prices-may-rise-ifimports-halted-economist

The Department of Agriculture's plan to stop rice importation in to favor local farmers could push up prices of the staple grain, an economist said Thursday."If we locally procure everything, we will be competing with local traders for the available stocks...

When stocks go down, prices go up," Ramon Clarete of the UP School of Economics told ANC's "Market Edge with Cathy Yang.

"President Rodrigo Duterte recently directed the National Food Authority to buy rice from local farmersbefore importing. http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/04/20/17/rice-prices-may-rise-if-imports-halted-economist

Over 92% of VN’s rice export in Q1 under firms’ deals APRIL 21, 2017

The report also said Vietnam exported 1.1 million tonnes of rice, down 23 percent in volume and 18 percent in value compared to the same period last year.China remained the largest rice

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

17

importer in the reviewed time with 448,000 tonnes, making up 41 percent of the total rice exports, followed by the Philippines and Africa with 20 percent and 13 percent, respectively.

Average price of rice export in Q1 reached US$432 per tonne, up US$27.7 per tonne against last year. Rice price in March climbed to some US$445 per tonne, increasing US$42.8 due to a surge in domestic rice price.

According to Huynh The Nang, Chairman of VFA, many key rice importers of Vietnam, particularly in Southeast Asia, have switched their rice import mechanisms from intergovernmental deals to trade deals of private companies or liberalise rice trade.

He added that Vietnamâ€&#x;s rice exporters should prepare to better adapt to market demand in the future. https://www.talkvietnam.com/2017/04/over-92-of-vns-rice-export-in-q1-under-firms-deals/

Ghana can halt rice importation – Percival Ampomah CitiFMonline 20 April 2017 | Business & Finance

The importation of rice can be drastically reduced if the necessary measures are taken to boost rice production in Ghana, the Manager of Worawora Ricemill, a subsidiary of Groupe Nduom, Percival Ofori Ampomah has said.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

18

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Ampomah suggested what he termed a comprehensive approach to boosting local rice production in Ghana.He was optimistic rice production in Ghana can be up-scaled if government and other key investors decide to channel more resources to that sector.

Though he indicated that an active role by these two players could reduce rice importation, Mr. Ampomah was quick to add that, these efforts should be complemented with a rigorous sensitization on locally produced rice, and a constant irrigation of farm lands across the country.Mr. Ampomah admitted that, though successive governments have always been committing some sort of efforts into reducing the importation of rice, the dream of drastically reducing rice importation can be achieved if the above mentioned suggestions are considered.

“The good news is that, there are irrigated lands that are lying there, that are not being used so the potential is considerably great and production can be up-scaled to the extent where we can get that 70 percent mark.

I will say that, if government or anybody wants to support that effort [Reducing rice importation], it is possible and we can do that. We can actually do this in five years or even less than that. Once we develop these irrigated farms, we will be able to produce enough to replace the importation. We can get a very good percentage produced locally. But more investors need to come on the field in terms of agriculture. Also on the market, more people need to sensitize Ghanaians about eating local rice and the nutritional content ..It is a comprehensive approach.”

Rice import costs Ghana US$500m annually In 2016, the Director of Finance and Administration at the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation, Victor Kufuor, revealed that Ghana was spending 500 million dollars every year through the importation of rice.Mr. Kufuor said this posed serious challenges to local rice production, making it noncompetitive in the local markets.He said the taste for foreign goods by Ghanaians have grown in recent times, affecting the country‟s balance of trade.“We are importing over 500 million dollars worth of foreign rice. Why should we do that? Even some of the countries we are mentioning we probably are even better than them,” he said. The statistics comes at a time when the Trade Ministry is campaigning for Ghanaians to embrace and promote 'Made in Ghana Goods'.”

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana https://www.modernghana.com/news/769940/ghana-can-halt-rice-importation-percival-ampomah.html

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- April 18, 2017 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-April 18 Nagpur, April 18 (Reuters) – Major rice varieties reported higher in open market on increased

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

19

festival season demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions like MadhyaPradesh and Chhattisgar. Notable rise in demand from South-based traders also jacked up prices. No auction reported in tuar and gram in Nagpur APMC as brokers failed to give payments i time, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.

TUAR * Tuar varieties quoted static in open market here on subdued demand from local traders amid ample stock in ready position. * Watana varieties reported higher in open market on good festival season demand from local traders. * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,350-4,450, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,800-6,900, Udid Mogar (clean) – 9,500-11,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,100-7,400, Gram – 6,100-6,300, Gram Super best bold – 8,200-8,600 for 100 kg. * Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction n.a.

5,650-6,000 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction n.a.

3,500-4,000 Moong Auction n.a.

4,000-4,400 Udid Auction n.a.

4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a.

2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction n.a.

1,500-1,620 Gram Super Best Bold 8,700-9,000 8,700-9,000 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 7,800-8,000 7,800-8,000 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Desi gram Raw 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Gram Yellow 8,200-8,400 8,200-8,400 Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,500 12,400-13,500 Tuar Fataka Best-New 7,000-7,200 7,000-7,200 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,600-6,800 6,600-6,800 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 6,000-6,300 6,000-6,300

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

20

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,600-5,900 5,600-5,900 Tuar Gavarani New 3,900-4,200 3,900-4,200 Tuar Karnataka 4,200-4,400 4,200-4,400 Masoor dal best 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Masoor dal medium 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500 Moong Mogar Medium 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000 Moong dal Chilka 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 6,800-7,400 6,800-7,400 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 9,900-11,500 9,900-11,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 8,000-9,000 8,000-9,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 6,100-6,600 6,100-6,600 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,200 5,600-6,200 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,350 3,000-3,100 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,500 3,200-3,400 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,400 3,800-4,300 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan new (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-4,000 3,400-4,000 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,400 3,000-3,400 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,000 3,200-3,700 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 2,700-3,000 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,400-2,700 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,500 2,300-2,500 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500 Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,800-3,900 3,700-3,900 Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800 Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,000 6,500-6,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,400 6,000-6,300 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-14,000 9,500-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-7,000 5,200-6,700 Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,200 5,600-6,000 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,700 5,400-5,600

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

21

Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 44.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 26.5 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 44 and 26 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices)

1.62m tonnes approved for rice auction 20 Apr 2017 at 08:00 3,144 NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS Mrs Duangporn inspects pledged rice being stored at a warehouse in Nakhon Pathom province.

State-held rice stocks have recently fallen to 5.04 million tonnes.

The national rice policy committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday approved the sale of the first lot of inedible state rice stocks put up for general auction, totalling 1.62 million tonnes worth 7.92 billion baht.The approved amount is much lower than the combined 2.07 million tonnes of inedible state rice stocks proposed by 15 qualified bidders and announced by the Commerce Ministry's Foreign Trade Department on March 23.

The ministry called the first auction for 3.66 million tonnes of inedible grains on March 7, with interested bidders invited to hear the terms of reference on March 10 and then submit their bid prices on March 23.

The state rice stocks to be sold for industrial use cover 17 types of poor-quality grains including hom mali fragrant rice, white rice, glutinous rice and broken rice stored across 278 state warehouses in 39 provinces.Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said the national rice policy committee's decision is based on maximum proposed prices, quality of the grains, the state's financial costs in storing rice stocks and the possible impact on local rice and other cereal prices.

Mrs Duangporn said the department has already sent a letter informing the winning bidders to sign purchase contracts with the state-run Public Warehouse Organisation and the Marketing Organisation for Farmers in the next 15 days.She said the committee also approved on April 12 a proposal to call the first auction of 1.03 million tonnes of decaying rice for industrial use only,

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

22

which has been stored for over five years.The department is scheduled to allow interested bidders to observe the quality of that rice on April 19-25 and listen to the terms of reference on April 20.

Since the May 2014 coup, a combined 11.7 million tonnes of rice have been sold in 25 auctions, fetching 104 billion baht.State-held rice stocks have fallen to 5.04 million tonnes from the 18.7 million tonnes accumulated during 2011-14.Between Jan 1 and April 12 this year, Thailand exported 3.4 million tonnes, up 9.31% from the same period last year, worth US$1.43 billion (49.2 billion baht), up 6% in value.The government aims to export over 9.5 million tonnes this year.Charoen Laothammatas, president of Thai Rice Exporters Association, said he fully supports the government's ongoing efforts to dispose of the country's rice stocks. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1234958/1-62m-tonnes-approved-for-rice-auction

After Evasco, Go meeting, will NFA issue be resolved soon?

Two of the President's most trusted men have a talk and make a show of friendship. Does this mean the rice importation issue will be resolved soon?

Pia Ranada Published 12:01 PM, April 21, 2017-Updated 12:13 PM, April 21, 2017 DUTERTE'S TRUSTED. Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco and SAP Bong Go share a light moment at the sidelines of ASEAN Security Briefing held at the Philippine Ports Authority Conference Room in Bohol on April 19, 2017. After reports of a rift between Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, the two met up, apparently to have a talk, in Davao City.

In another encounter in Bohol, the two even posed for Palace photographers to dispel any notion that there was any issue between them.One of the fruits of their talks, according to Rappler sources, was the arrangement of a meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte, Evasco, and economic advisers about rice importation.During the meeting, Duterte is expected to be briefed about the issues surrounding the National Food Authority (NFA). But Palace sources say there is no set date yet for the meeting.

Shake-ups in the NFA were what led Duterte to publicly fire Evascoâ€&#x;s trusted undersecretary Halmen Valdez. Evasco was supposedly very disappointed with the Presidentâ€&#x;s move and resolved to speak with him personally about the issue.Hours after Duterte arrived from his Middle East trip on Monday, April 17, Go and Evasco met up in Davao City to have a chat. Two

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

23

days after, on Wednesday, Duterte made a last-minute invitation for Evasco to join him and other Cabinet officials in a security briefing in Tagbilaran, Bohol.

Palace photos of the briefing blasted to the media tried to downplay the reported differences between the two officials. Photos showed Evasco and Go smiling as they brandished twin Duterte “closed fist” gestures. In some photos, Go even has his arm over Evasco‟s shoulder.

The photos were also sent by Malacañang with the caption: "Contrary to reports that there is a rift between Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go, they insist that they have a healthy working relationship."

It was an obvious attempt to assure the public that all is well between them. But it was known among some in the Palace that Evasco had been smarting over Valdez' dismissal, for which he was not even consulted, and his lack of access to Duterte. Go controls the President's schedule and appointments as head of the Presidential Management Staff.

Issues A meeting to brief Duterte on the complex issue of rice importation is critical at a time when differences between Evasco and NFA Administrator Jason Aquino threaten food security and stability of rice prices. (READ: Dismissed Usec Valdez to Duterte: Probe 'NFA syndicate') Evasco, backed by NFA Council members, seeks to extend the deadline for rice imports of private rice traders to arrive in the country. These rice imports were approved under the World Trade Organization‟s Minimum Access Volume scheme but were delayed because of pending requests to Aquino and delays in filling up boats with imported rice from their countries of origin.Aquino, meanwhile, refuses to extend the deadline for private rice importers, and is instead pushing for immediate government-to-government transaction of rice, which the NFA Council denied. (READ: Who is NFA chief Jason Aquino and why is he controversial?)

Duterte, when he fired Valdez, seemed convinced that the extension of deadline for private rice imports being sought by the NFA Council is disadvantageous to Filipino farmers. (READ: 'Poor card' used on Duterte to muddle rice importation issue) Will the stand-off between Aquino and other members of the NFA Council, led by Evasco, be resolved soon?The country‟s rice stocks depend on the matter. In the end, Duterte will have to make a decision, one that the country can only hope will be informed and fair. – Rappler.com Inside Track is Rappler's intelligencer on people, events, places and everything of public interest. It's a take-off from Newsbreak's Inside Track section. Contributions are most welcome.

Just send bits of information to investigative@rappler.com. http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/167517-jun-evasco-bong-go-meeting-nfa-issue

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com