World Grain - February 2016 - 88

RICE QUARTERLY

Rice

News Roundup
Thailand's rice export prices increase

WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. - Thailand's rice export prices increased slightly as exporters pursued new-crop white rice for shipment under the 2014 government-to-government agreement with
China, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) reported on Jan. 5.
Despite the lack of new inquiries from foreign buyers during the
holiday season, export prices increased slightly as some exporters
reportedly sought new-crop 5% grade white rice for shipment under

the 2014 government-to-government agreement with China, which
totaled 1 million tonnes. Presently, exporters are shipping the ninth
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2015. The shipment is taking place from January through February.
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fragrant rice) for Jan. 1-3 totaled 208 tonnes. Rice exports from Jan.
1 to Dec. 31, 2015 totaled 4,425,469 tonnes, down 18% from the
same period last year.

Vietnam's rice production estimated at record level
HANOI, VIETNAM - Vietnam's 2015 summer/autumn rice production is estimated at a record level of 14.8 million tonnes and
the winter crop output is anticipated to remain close to last year's
high level, according to a Dec. 28 GIEWS Country Brief from the
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Good yields helped offset a marginal contraction in planted
area. Overall, the 2015 aggregate rice production, including the
winter/spring harvested earlier in the year, is set at 45.1 million
tonnes, close to the 2014 record level. On average, the winter/
spring paddy crop amounts to about 46% of the annual paddy production, while the remaining two seasons, summer/autumn and
winter, account for 32% and 22%, respectively.
The wholesale prices of rice, the main staple food, increased
considerably in November, underpinned by large government-togovernment deals with the Philippines and Indonesia. Overall,
rice prices remained lower than their year-earlier levels following
two consecutive years of bumper outputs.
Vietnam's planting of the 2016, mostly irrigated, main winter/
spring rice paddy crop started in mid-November in the south and
continues until March in the north,
Overall, favorable weather conditions and fewer incidences of
88

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had been sown on 1.1 million hectares, some 4% above the area
planted by the same time last year. Despite the fast pace in this
season's paddy plantings, there are some concerns over low water
levels in the Mekong River, following considerably reduced rains
associated with the ongoing strong El Niño event in Cambodia
and Laos. The low water levels for irrigation, coupled with less
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could have a negative impact on the yield potential of the winter/
spring crop.
Harvesting of the 2015 summer/autumn season crop was completed in October and that of the minor winter crop is nearing
completion. Below-average rainfall from April to July over the
Central Highlands, North Central and Central Coastal areas, and
parts of the southern main rice-growing Mekong River Delta,
delayed planting of both crops. A more normal pattern of rains
resumed from late July over the main rice producing areas, allowing the pace of paddy planting to pick up. The improved moisture
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February 2016 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

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