India is mounting pressure on Russia, a growing importer of farm products, to lift the ban on rice and peanuts from the country imposed early this year and accept bovine meat tested in Indian-Government certified labs.
It has also invited officials from the country’s quality control department to visit India later this month to inspect the quality of rice and buffalo meat being exported from the country. With Russia emerging as a major buyer of farm products, especially of bovine meat and processed food, India wants it to remove existing restrictions hindering exports from India.
“We have just started the process of establishing a toe-hold in Russia’s fast growing market for farm produce and have run into quality issues. We hope to sort these out soon,” a Commerce Department official told Business Line.
India’s export of rice to Russia increased five times to $25 million in April-December 2012 compared to $4.5 million in the same period of the previous year before breaks were applied by the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phyto-sanitary Surveillance (FSVPS) on exports in February this year.
The country placed a temporary ban on import of both rice and peanuts from India following detection of Khapra Beetle in Indian rice consignments.
“Strong measures have been taken since then by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) India in conformity with terms of a MoU signed with Russia in 2009,” the official said.
The NPPO has withdrawn the authority of the two officials issuing phyto-sanitary certification to Russia and suspended accreditation of the two pest-control organisations for fumigation of export consignments to Russia. It has also issued an advisory to all phyto-sanitary certification authorities directing them to be cautious and vigilant in carrying out inspection of exports to Russia. “We have now asked Russia to reconsider the ban. Detailed investigation in both cases of non-compliance is already underway and details would be shared with Russia soon,” the official said.
Tuesday 16 April 2013
Inida Bullish trend continues in rice market
Uptrend in the rice market continued on Saturday with prices of aromatic rice moving up by Rs 50-100 a quintal. Non basmati varieties remained unchanged on moderate buying.
Amit Chandna, proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company, told Business Line that the domestic demand for aromatic and non-basmati rice is good currently and the market may continue to rule firm around current levels for the next few days.
Markets sentiments are still largely positive and traders expect that market may witness some good buying in next few weeks, he said.
In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) went up by Rs 100 to Rs 8,200 a quintal, while Pusa-1121 (sela) improved by Rs 50 and quoted at Rs 7,150 a quintal.
Pure basmati (raw) quoted at Rs 9,000 a quintal. Duplicate basmati (steam) traded at Rs 7,100 a quintal, Rs 100 up.
For the brokens of Pusa-1121, Dubar improved by Rs 100 and quoted at Rs 4,100, Tibar up by Rs 50 and sold at Rs 4,950 while Mongra was at Rs 3,100 a quintal, up Rs 100.
On the other hand, after witnessing an uptrend earlier this week, non-basmati varieties remained unchanged. Sharbati (steam) quoted at Rs 5,400, while Sharbati (sela) was at Rs 5,050 a quintal.
PR-11 (sela) sold at Rs 3,400-3,450 while PR-11 (Raw) quoted at Rs 3,100-3,150 a quintal. Permal (raw) sold at Rs 2,500 a quintal while Permal (sela) went for Rs 2,400 a quintal.
PR14 (steam) sold at Rs 3,200 a quintal. According to the trade experts, PR14 (steam) may witness an uptrend in coming weeks and may increase by Rs 200 a quintal.
Amit Chandna, proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company, told Business Line that the domestic demand for aromatic and non-basmati rice is good currently and the market may continue to rule firm around current levels for the next few days.
Markets sentiments are still largely positive and traders expect that market may witness some good buying in next few weeks, he said.
In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) went up by Rs 100 to Rs 8,200 a quintal, while Pusa-1121 (sela) improved by Rs 50 and quoted at Rs 7,150 a quintal.
Pure basmati (raw) quoted at Rs 9,000 a quintal. Duplicate basmati (steam) traded at Rs 7,100 a quintal, Rs 100 up.
For the brokens of Pusa-1121, Dubar improved by Rs 100 and quoted at Rs 4,100, Tibar up by Rs 50 and sold at Rs 4,950 while Mongra was at Rs 3,100 a quintal, up Rs 100.
On the other hand, after witnessing an uptrend earlier this week, non-basmati varieties remained unchanged. Sharbati (steam) quoted at Rs 5,400, while Sharbati (sela) was at Rs 5,050 a quintal.
PR-11 (sela) sold at Rs 3,400-3,450 while PR-11 (Raw) quoted at Rs 3,100-3,150 a quintal. Permal (raw) sold at Rs 2,500 a quintal while Permal (sela) went for Rs 2,400 a quintal.
PR14 (steam) sold at Rs 3,200 a quintal. According to the trade experts, PR14 (steam) may witness an uptrend in coming weeks and may increase by Rs 200 a quintal.
India Minimum statutory prices for rice, cotton to be increased
The commission for agriculture costs and prices has recommended no increase in the minimum statutory prices (MSP) of red gram, black gram and sunflower. The Commission has recommended revision of MSP of rice by Rs 60 per quintal and by Rs 100 per quintal for cotton.
The union government released the details of the recommendations of the commission recently.
If the proposed prices come into effect, normal rice would be purchased at Rs 1,310 per quintal. The A grade rice, which attracts higher price would have MSP of Rs 1,340 per quintal.
The union government released the details of the recommendations of the commission recently.
If the proposed prices come into effect, normal rice would be purchased at Rs 1,310 per quintal. The A grade rice, which attracts higher price would have MSP of Rs 1,340 per quintal.
Thailand Commerce Ministry to assist export sector due to Baht appreciation
The Minister of Commerce plans to have a discussion with members of the private sector involved regarding the fluctuation of Thai Baht and measures to assist exporters.
According to Minster of Commerce Boonsong Teriyapirom, the meeting with the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) will be held after Songkran holidays to find measures to help reduce impacts of the Baht fluctuation to the export sector, which he said, would experience apparent negative effects of a stronger Baht in March.
The export value in January 2013 increased by 16%; however, it turned into a negative growth in February due to the repeated fluctuation of the baht.
As for the 2nd round of the rice pledging scheme for the 2012/2013 season, the Commerce Minster revealed that more than 700,000 tonnes of paddy have so far been mortgaged to the scheme while the ministry has set a target to buy a total of 7 million tones of paddy under this scheme.
Mr. Boonsong also said his ministry would continue to monitor prices of consumer and agricultural products during Songkran festival, adding the current prices of most products were at normal levels.
According to Minster of Commerce Boonsong Teriyapirom, the meeting with the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) will be held after Songkran holidays to find measures to help reduce impacts of the Baht fluctuation to the export sector, which he said, would experience apparent negative effects of a stronger Baht in March.
The export value in January 2013 increased by 16%; however, it turned into a negative growth in February due to the repeated fluctuation of the baht.
As for the 2nd round of the rice pledging scheme for the 2012/2013 season, the Commerce Minster revealed that more than 700,000 tonnes of paddy have so far been mortgaged to the scheme while the ministry has set a target to buy a total of 7 million tones of paddy under this scheme.
Mr. Boonsong also said his ministry would continue to monitor prices of consumer and agricultural products during Songkran festival, adding the current prices of most products were at normal levels.
India domestic rice prices
Domestic demand, coupled with fresh trade enquires, kept aromatic and non-basmati rice firm on Monday.
Rice, which has rallied in the last one week, ruled firm at previous quoted levels as trade enquiries supported the market, said Amit Chandna, Proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company.
Rising retail demand has turned the market sentiment positive and prices are likely to rule around current levels this week, he added.
Prices of aromatic varieties have increased by Rs 200-500 a quintal while the non-basmati varieties have gone up by Rs 70-400 over the last one week.
Traders expect that market may rule range-bound but within a positive territory, said market experts.
In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) sold at Rs 8,200 while Pusa-1121 (sela) quoted at Rs 7,150.
Pure basmati (raw) quoted at Rs 9,000. Duplicate basmati (steam) traded at Rs 7,100.
For the brokens of Pusa-1121, Dubar quoted at Rs 4,100, Tibar sold at Rs 4,950 while Mongra was at Rs 3,100.
Similarly, non-basmati varieties remained unchanged. Sharbati (steam) quoted at Rs 5,400, while Sharbati (sela) was at Rs 5,050.
PR-11 (sela) sold at Rs 3,400-3,450 while PR-11 (raw) quoted at Rs 3,100-3,150.
Permal (raw) sold at Rs 2,500 while Permal (sela) went for Rs 2,400 . PR14 (steam) sold at Rs 3,200.
Rice, which has rallied in the last one week, ruled firm at previous quoted levels as trade enquiries supported the market, said Amit Chandna, Proprietor of Hanuman Rice Trading Company.
Rising retail demand has turned the market sentiment positive and prices are likely to rule around current levels this week, he added.
Prices of aromatic varieties have increased by Rs 200-500 a quintal while the non-basmati varieties have gone up by Rs 70-400 over the last one week.
Traders expect that market may rule range-bound but within a positive territory, said market experts.
In the physical market, Pusa-1121 (steam) sold at Rs 8,200 while Pusa-1121 (sela) quoted at Rs 7,150.
Pure basmati (raw) quoted at Rs 9,000. Duplicate basmati (steam) traded at Rs 7,100.
For the brokens of Pusa-1121, Dubar quoted at Rs 4,100, Tibar sold at Rs 4,950 while Mongra was at Rs 3,100.
Similarly, non-basmati varieties remained unchanged. Sharbati (steam) quoted at Rs 5,400, while Sharbati (sela) was at Rs 5,050.
PR-11 (sela) sold at Rs 3,400-3,450 while PR-11 (raw) quoted at Rs 3,100-3,150.
Permal (raw) sold at Rs 2,500 while Permal (sela) went for Rs 2,400 . PR14 (steam) sold at Rs 3,200.
Vietnam Parboiled rice
Vietnamese exporters were hoping that parboiled rice would give them a helping hand considering the difficulties faced in rice production and export.
Parboiled rice refers to the grain that has been partially boiled in the husk, boosting its nutritional profile and changing its texture.
Parboiled rice thus fetches higher export prices than traditionally processed kinds.
Arup Kumar Gupta, general director of VAP Foods Co. Ltd., said the global commercial volumes of rice amount to 35 – 36 million tonnes per year, including 5-6 million tonnes of parboiled rice.
Some 70 per cent of the latter now comes from Thailand and India, but Viet Nam has a price advantage over Thailand, while India's incoherent export policy makes its products less competitive, Gupta said.
Viet Nam also has the advantage of being a traditional exporter of several popular varieties of rice, he said.
Parboiled rice often costs 30-50 per cent more than white rice. Through a process consisting of soaking, steaming, drying, and hardening, it is protected against insects and nutrients are retained.
Parboiled rice is consumed in West Africa, the Middle East, South America, and some Asian countries.
There are currently two rice parboiling plants in Viet Nam, one operated by the HCM City-based Vinh Phat JSC in the Mekong province of An Giang and the other by a Thai company in Tien Giang Province.
VAP, a joint venture between the Viet Nam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2) and Auro Capital and Phoenix Commodities, is investing $15 million to build a 500-tonne plant in Long An Province which will go on stream in July.
"This is a prime time to invest in processing parboiled rice in Viet Nam," Gupta told a meeting last week.
But it is not easy for local firms to break into the global market because it is dominated by Thailand and India, he warned.
Nguyen Tho Tri, deputy CEO of Vinafood 2, added it is not simple also because it is dominated by many major multinational groups.
According to the Viet Nam Food Association, in the first quarter Viet Nam exported 16,400 tonnes of parboiled rice, accounting for 1.13 per cent of Viet Nam's total rice exports.
Parboiled rice refers to the grain that has been partially boiled in the husk, boosting its nutritional profile and changing its texture.
Parboiled rice thus fetches higher export prices than traditionally processed kinds.
Arup Kumar Gupta, general director of VAP Foods Co. Ltd., said the global commercial volumes of rice amount to 35 – 36 million tonnes per year, including 5-6 million tonnes of parboiled rice.
Some 70 per cent of the latter now comes from Thailand and India, but Viet Nam has a price advantage over Thailand, while India's incoherent export policy makes its products less competitive, Gupta said.
Viet Nam also has the advantage of being a traditional exporter of several popular varieties of rice, he said.
Parboiled rice often costs 30-50 per cent more than white rice. Through a process consisting of soaking, steaming, drying, and hardening, it is protected against insects and nutrients are retained.
Parboiled rice is consumed in West Africa, the Middle East, South America, and some Asian countries.
There are currently two rice parboiling plants in Viet Nam, one operated by the HCM City-based Vinh Phat JSC in the Mekong province of An Giang and the other by a Thai company in Tien Giang Province.
VAP, a joint venture between the Viet Nam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2) and Auro Capital and Phoenix Commodities, is investing $15 million to build a 500-tonne plant in Long An Province which will go on stream in July.
"This is a prime time to invest in processing parboiled rice in Viet Nam," Gupta told a meeting last week.
But it is not easy for local firms to break into the global market because it is dominated by Thailand and India, he warned.
Nguyen Tho Tri, deputy CEO of Vinafood 2, added it is not simple also because it is dominated by many major multinational groups.
According to the Viet Nam Food Association, in the first quarter Viet Nam exported 16,400 tonnes of parboiled rice, accounting for 1.13 per cent of Viet Nam's total rice exports.
Monday 15 April 2013
Iran cuts rice import
Iran's Customs Administration reported that the country imported 1.289 million tons of rice worth over $1.3 billion in the past Iranian calendar year, which ended March 20.
The figures show 14.96-percent decrease in terms of weight, and 4.21-percent increase in terms of value, the ISNA News Agency reported.
The rice import accounted for 2.03 percent of Iran's total imports.
India with 870,000 tons of rice (worth $943 million) was the main exporter of rice to Iran. India's share of exports accounted for 67.46 percent of Tehran's total rice imports.
The United Arab Emirates and Pakistan with 13.15 percent and 10.45 percent respectively were the other main exporters of rice to the country.
The figures show 14.96-percent decrease in terms of weight, and 4.21-percent increase in terms of value, the ISNA News Agency reported.
The rice import accounted for 2.03 percent of Iran's total imports.
India with 870,000 tons of rice (worth $943 million) was the main exporter of rice to Iran. India's share of exports accounted for 67.46 percent of Tehran's total rice imports.
The United Arab Emirates and Pakistan with 13.15 percent and 10.45 percent respectively were the other main exporters of rice to the country.
Friday 12 April 2013
Turkey Rice Imports Forecast to Increase 17% in 2013-14
Turkey’s rice imports are expected to increase to around 350,000 tons in the MY 2013-14 (September to August), up almost 17% from an estimated 300,000 tons in MY 2012-13, according to the USDA Post in Ankara. Turkey’s rice imports started rising in the third quarter of 2012 and are expected to increase in the coming few months, said the Post.
Rice farmers in Turkey are facing difficulties in marketing and low profitability in rice farming compared to barley, sunflower, corn and sugar beet. Rice acreage is estimated to decline to around 98,000 hectares in MY 2013-14 (September to August), down about 5% from around 103,000 hectares in the previous year. As a result, rice production is estimated to decline to around 470,000 tons in MY 2013-14, the lowest in three years and which reduces the rice-sufficiency of the country to 63%, down from 64% in 2012-13 and 67% in 2011-12. Rice consumption in Turkey is mostly unchanged in the last few years at around 750,000 tons per year.
The Post says that the feed industry is growing very fast in Turkey and this is making corn farming more attractive than rice or wheat, both grains being considered luxuries and not staple by the government.
Rice farmers in Turkey are facing difficulties in marketing and low profitability in rice farming compared to barley, sunflower, corn and sugar beet. Rice acreage is estimated to decline to around 98,000 hectares in MY 2013-14 (September to August), down about 5% from around 103,000 hectares in the previous year. As a result, rice production is estimated to decline to around 470,000 tons in MY 2013-14, the lowest in three years and which reduces the rice-sufficiency of the country to 63%, down from 64% in 2012-13 and 67% in 2011-12. Rice consumption in Turkey is mostly unchanged in the last few years at around 750,000 tons per year.
The Post says that the feed industry is growing very fast in Turkey and this is making corn farming more attractive than rice or wheat, both grains being considered luxuries and not staple by the government.
BAAC Offers Funds for Thailand Government Rice Mortgage Program
The Thai government’s rice mortgage program has received a funding boost with the state-owned Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) offering to use its excess liquidity worth around 227 billion baht (about $7.6 billion) to fund the rice mortgage program this year if the government fails to raise the required funds.
The BAAC president told local sources that the bank’s current liquidity is around three times the norms which could be used to make advance payment to farmers under the rice mortgage program, which will then refunded to the bank by the Commerce Ministry. He also said that the Commerce Ministry has already paid the bank about 102 billion baht (about $3.4 billion) and plans to generate about 220 billion baht (about $7.6 billion) from the release of rice from the stockpile (expected around 6-7 million tons) this year to pay the bank.
According to the USDA, the Thai government has approved funds of about 410 billion baht (about $13.6 billion) for purchase of around 18 million tons of paddy under the rice mortgage program in 2012-13 (October to September).
The BAAC president told local sources that the bank’s current liquidity is around three times the norms which could be used to make advance payment to farmers under the rice mortgage program, which will then refunded to the bank by the Commerce Ministry. He also said that the Commerce Ministry has already paid the bank about 102 billion baht (about $3.4 billion) and plans to generate about 220 billion baht (about $7.6 billion) from the release of rice from the stockpile (expected around 6-7 million tons) this year to pay the bank.
According to the USDA, the Thai government has approved funds of about 410 billion baht (about $13.6 billion) for purchase of around 18 million tons of paddy under the rice mortgage program in 2012-13 (October to September).
GM rice importers arrested in Turkey
Turkish media reports that individuals from three companies in the rice import business have been arrested for failure to comply with Turkey's biosafety law, alleging that rice imported by these firms and placed on the Turkish market contains unapproved genetically modified (GM) traits. Two of the companies are involved because of imports of U.S. medium-grain paddy rice from the Mid-South.
No GM rice is produced commercially in the U.S.; the Liberty Link GM trait found in the commercial long-grain supply in 2006 has been effectively eliminated; and no GM traits have ever been detected in U.S. medium-grain rice. The U.S. embassy in Turkey has communicated to senior levels of the Turkish government the lack of GM rice production in the U.S. and the embassy's great concern over the lack of rigor in the sampling and testing of imported U.S. rice for GM presence. Several of the U.S. rice cargoes in question have undergone multiple GM tests, with legal action being taken following a positive test result. Turkey's biosafety law prohibits importing and placing on the market agricultural goods containing unapproved GM traits, even if those traits are at low levels and caused by in-transit contamination from a previous cargo containing a GM product.
Turkey imported 147,757 metric tons of U.S. rice in 2012, valued at $63 million. Consumers in Turkey prefer medium-grain rice, and importers source from the mid-South and California. Paddy rice predominates, and accounted for 72 percent of total imports from the U.S. last year.
USA Rice will continue to assist the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. embassy and to educate customers and consumers in Turkey about U.S. rice's high quality, safety and lack of GM presence.
No GM rice is produced commercially in the U.S.; the Liberty Link GM trait found in the commercial long-grain supply in 2006 has been effectively eliminated; and no GM traits have ever been detected in U.S. medium-grain rice. The U.S. embassy in Turkey has communicated to senior levels of the Turkish government the lack of GM rice production in the U.S. and the embassy's great concern over the lack of rigor in the sampling and testing of imported U.S. rice for GM presence. Several of the U.S. rice cargoes in question have undergone multiple GM tests, with legal action being taken following a positive test result. Turkey's biosafety law prohibits importing and placing on the market agricultural goods containing unapproved GM traits, even if those traits are at low levels and caused by in-transit contamination from a previous cargo containing a GM product.
Turkey imported 147,757 metric tons of U.S. rice in 2012, valued at $63 million. Consumers in Turkey prefer medium-grain rice, and importers source from the mid-South and California. Paddy rice predominates, and accounted for 72 percent of total imports from the U.S. last year.
USA Rice will continue to assist the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. embassy and to educate customers and consumers in Turkey about U.S. rice's high quality, safety and lack of GM presence.
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