4th may,2015 daily exclusive oryza rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice E-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com

1

Daily Exclusive ORYZA Rice

Newsletter

Volume 5, Issue I

May 04 , 2015


2

Government of Pakistan Fixes 2015 Milled

Rice Production Target at 7 Million Tons

May 01, 2015

Pakistan's Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) has set new production targets for this year's

rice, sugarcane and maize crops, according to local sources.For rice, the FCA has fixed a target

of 7 million tons, basis milled, (around 10.35 million tons, basis paddy) from an area of around

2.8 million hectares. It aims to produce 68 million tons of sugarcane and 4.6 million tons of

maize this year.Speaking at a conference after the FCA meeting, the Minister for National Food

Security and Research told local sources that the volume of irrigated water would be adequate in

all area except in some areas of Sindh. The Met Office also reported that water levels in all

reservoirs and expressed confidence that rainfall would be normal in all parts of the country.


3

The Minister noted that last year the availability of certified seeds had increased during the

Kharif sowing season. A representative of the State Bank added that the allocation of

institutional credit also increased substantially last year.

USDA estimates Pakistan's MY 2014-15 (November - October) milled rice production to

increase about 3% to around 6.9 million tons (around 10.35 million tons, basis paddy) from

around 6.7 million tons (around 10.05 million tons, basis paddy) in MY 2013-14. However, the

National Space Agency of Pakistan (SUPARCO) and UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization

(FAO have estimated Pakistan FY 2014-15 (July - June) milled rice production to decline about

19% to around 5.65 million tons (around 8.437 million tons, basis paddy) from around 6.72

million tons (around 10.04 million tons, basis paddy) produced last year.

Weekly Recap: Oryza White Rice Index Slips

amid May Day Holiday

May 01, 2015

The Oryza White Rice Index (WRI), a weighted index of global rice export quotes, ended the

week at $408 per ton, down $1 per ton from week ago, down $3 per ton from a month ago, and

down $42 per ton from a year earlier. News this week was slow amid holidays across the world.

Thailand

Thailand 5% broken rice ended the week around $385 per ton, unchanged from last week, but

down $5 per ton from a month ago and up $10 per ton from a year prior.

The government of Thailand has approved a 460 million baht (about $14 million) rice protection

program for 2015.

Vietnam

Vietnam 5% broken rice was today indicated around $360 per ton, unchanged from last week,

but down about $5 per ton from a month ago and down about $30 per ton from a year ago.


4

The Vietnam Food Association has cut the floor price of the lower quality 25% broken rice

exports to around $340 per ton, down about 3%, due to subdued demand for Vietnamese rice.

Authorities in China have reportedly tightened control over unofficial rice imports from

Vietnam.


5

Vietnam plans to build thermal power plants using rice husks.

India

India 5% broken rice finished this week shown around $365 per ton, down about $5 per ton from

a week earlier, down about $10 per ton from a month earlier, and down about $35 per ton from a

year earlier.

India exported about 11.65 million tons of rice in FY 2014-15 (April-March), up about 8% from

the same period in FY 2013-14.

India’s 2014-15 rabi rice crop (November-May) stands at around 4.066 million hectares as of

May 1, down about 9% from the same period last year.

The government is promoting climate smart rice varieties in order to boost production and

consequently farmers’ income in drought and flood prone states.

Pakistan

Pakistan 5% broken rice ended the week quoted around $380 per ton, up around $5 per ton from

a week earlier and up about $25 per ton from a month earlier but down about $40 per ton from

this time last year.

The government of Pakistan has set a new production target of 7 million tons for 2015.

Central & South America

Brazil 5% broken rice is today shown about $565 per ton, unchanged from week ago, down

about $10 per ton from a month ago, and down $60 per ton from a year ago.

Argentina and Uruguay 5% broken rice ended the week quoted around $550 per ton unchanged

from the week and month earlier but down around a whopping $115 per ton from a year ago.

A former Central Bank Co-Director says that Colombia’s rice import barriers have increased

domestic rice prices and inflation rates.

U.S.

U.S. 4% broken rice is today shown around $485 per ton, about unchanged from a week and a

month ago, but down around $100 per ton from this time last year.


6

The U.S. cash market weakened late this week after it was reported that the Iraqi Grain Board

delayed announcing any winners in their latest tender.

Chicago rough rice futures for July delivery saw a boost on Wednesday and Thursday but

dropped again after the IGB announcement. After opening at $10.145 per cwt (about $224 per

ton) on Tuesday, they reached a high of $10.475 per cwt (about $231 per ton) on Wednesday but

dropped on Friday to close at $10.200 per cwt (about $225 per ton).

Other Markets

Cambodia 5% broken rice ended the week around $435 per ton, unchanged from last week, but

down around $5 per ton from a month ago and down about $5 per ton from this time last year.

The National Board of Revenue in Bangladesh will likely impose duty on rice imports in efforts

to help stabilize domestic prices. Separately, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics estimates

milled rice output from the Aman (July-December) and Aus (February-August) crops to increase

significantly in financial year 2014-15.

Bhutan plans to provide farmers with newer varieties of rice that are high yielding and short

duration in efforts to boost rice production in the country.

The Agriculture Minister of South Korea has said the government will exclude rice from the

Trans Pacific Partnership list of tariff concessions. Meanwhile, South Korea’s state-run Agro

Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (KAFTC) has purchased 15,000 tons of non-glutinous

brown rice of U.S. and Australian origins.

Rice planting in Nepal may suffer after the recent 7.8 Mw earthquake, as Nepal typically starts

planting its rice crop in May and June.

India 2014-15 Rabi Rice Planting Reaches

4.066 Million Hectares as of May 1, 2015;

Down 9% from Last Year


7

May 01, 2015

Planting for India 2014-15 rabi (secondary) rice crop (November - May) stands at around 4.066

million hectares as of May 1, 2015; down about 9% from around 4.485 million hectares planted

during the same period last year, according to preliminary data released by the Indian

Agriculture Ministry.

The decline is reportedly due to untimely rains in some part of the rabi rice growing areas.The

government of India, in its second advance estimates for major crops, has estimated India's rice

production, basis milled, from rabi crop at around 15.02 million tons and around 88.02 million

tons from kharif crop, according to a statement from the Agriculture Ministry. It estimates total

rice production for 2014-15 marketing year (October 2014 - September 2015) at around 103.04

million tons, down about 3% from an estimated 106.65 million tons in 2013-14.

Government of Thailand Approves $14

Million Rice Protection Program for 2015


8

May 01, 2015

The Thai cabinet has approved a 460 million baht (around $14 million) rice protection program

for the 2015 production season, according to local sources.The Finance Minister told local

sources that the Ministry is expecting about 1.5 million rice farmers to participate in the program

compared to about 800,000 farmers last year. He also noted that the Ministry is planning to issue

10 and 20 year bond notes worth 300 billion baht (around $9.2 billion) and the funds received

from the bond issuance would be used to repay the debt obligations of the rice pledging scheme

and other government programs.

Separately, the former Commerce Minister, the former Deputy Commerce Minister and the

former Department of Foreign Trade Director-General were reportedly absent at the questioning

session by the Thai National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday. They reportedly sent a

letter to the NLA saying they intended to be silent until their trial in the Supreme Court's

Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders, which is scheduled for June 29, 2015. They noted

in the letter that they are concerned that their answers before the legislators would affect their

court trial.The NLA reportedly began impeachment hearing against the three accused for their

alleged corruption in government-to-government (G2G) rice deals with two Chinese companies

on April 23, 2015.

India Rice Sellers Increase Some Quotes

Today; Other Asian Rice Quotes Unchanged

May 01, 2015


9

Indian rice sellers increased their quotes for 25% broken rice by about $5 per ton to around $275

- $285 per ton today. Other Asian rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged from yesterday.

Vietnam and Thailand rice sellers are out today on account of a public holiday.

5% Broken Rice

India 5% rice is indicated at around $365 - $375 per ton, a $10 per ton discount to Pakistan 5%

rice shown at around $375 - $385 per ton.

25% Broken Rice

India 25% rice is indicated at around $340 - $350, about a $10 per ton premium on Pakistan 25%

rice shown at around $330 - $340 per ton.

Parboiled Rice

India parboiled rice is indicated at around $360 - $370 per ton, about a $25 per ton discount to

Pakistan parboiled rice shown at around $385 - $395 per ton.

100% Broken Rice

India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $275- $285 per ton, about a $10 per ton discount to

Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $285 - $295 per ton

Oryza Overnight Recap – Chicago Rough

Rice Futures Remain Under Pressure

Following Yesterday’s Round of Warehouse

Receipt Registrations

May 01, 2015

Chicago rough rice futures for Jul delivery are currently seen 8 cents per cwt (about $2 per ton)

lower at $10.215 per cwt (about $225 per ton) during early floor trading in Chicago. The other

grains are seen trading mostly lower: soybeans are currently seen about 0.4% lower, wheat is

listed about 0.4% higher and corn is currently noted 0.8% lower.U.S. stocks traded higher on

Friday, rebounding from Thursday's selloff, as investors kept an eye on higher Treasury yields

and economic reports. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped more than 100 points soon after

the open as all the major indices recovered the prior day's losses.

The key monthly jobs report for April comes out next Friday morning and will indicate whether

or not the first quarter slowdown could continue into the rest of the year. On Thursday, weekly

jobless claims came in at 262,000, a 15-year low. The major indices closed below their 50-day

moving average, with biotechs sending the Nasdaq down 82.22 points, or 1.6%, recovering

slightly from a 2% dip. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 1.1%. Expansion in the

U.S. manufacturing sector weakened in April as growth in output and new orders fell, according


10

financial data firm Markit. The report said the final U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers'

Index fell to 54.1 in April from 55.7 in March.

The preliminary read was 54.2. On the back of disappointing first-quarter GDP data, the

manufacturing ISM index at 10.00 a.m. ET. The report is expected to show a modest rise to 52 in

April that would follow five consecutive months of weakening. In Europe, U.K. equities

wobbled as the majority of European markets, and many international markets, were closed for

the International Workers' Day holiday. Gold is currently trading about 0.9% lower, crude oil is

seen trading about 1% lower, and the U.S. dollar is currently trading about 0.2% higher at

9:00am Chicago time.

Seed Research and Development Facility to

be built in Arkansas, a Major U.S. Rice

Producing State

May 01, 2015

Plans are underway to build a 8.6 million new facility for rice, soybean, and wheat seed research

in Arkansas, a major U.S. rice producing state. The goal of the facility will be to provide

collaboration among scientists and researchers to develop high-yielding quality

seeds.Construction of the seed foundation facility will begin this summer in Stuttgart, Arkansas

and construction is estimated to be complete in 12 months.

Oryza Afternoon Recap - Chicago Rough

Rice Futures Continue to Soften as Market

Weighs Huge Supplies and Lack of Demand

May 01, 2015

Chicago rough rice futures for Jul delivery settled 9 cents per cwt (about $2 per ton) lower at

$10.205 per cwt (about $225 per ton). The other grains finished the day flat to lower; Soybeans

closed about 1.2% lower at $9.6475 per bushel; wheat finished unchanged at $4.7400 per bushel,

and corn finished the day about 0.8% lower at $3.5975 per bushel.U.S. stocks traded higher on

Friday, recovering from Thursday's selloff, as investors kept an eye on higher Treasury yields

and economic reports.


11

The Dow Jones industrial average gained more than 150 points. The major indices recovered the

prior day's losses, with the Nasdaq outperforming. The key monthly jobs report for April comes

out next Friday morning and will indicate whether or not the first quarter slowdown could

continue into the rest of the year. Stocks are still negative for the week, with the Nasdaq tracking

a 2% decline and the S&P and Dow a little less than one percent lower for the week. On

Thursday, weekly jobless claims came in at 262,000, a 15-year low. The major indices closed

below their 50-day moving average, with biotechs sending the Nasdaq down 82.22 points, or

1.6%, recovering slightly from a 2% dip.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 1.1%.On the back of disappointing first-quarter

GDP data, April's manufacturing ISM index missed slightly, coming in at 51.5, unchanged from

the previous month. The report was expected to show a modest rise to 52 that would follow five

consecutive months of weakening. The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded up 119 points, or

0.67%, at 17,958. The S&P 500 traded up 13 points, or 0.66%, at 2,099, with materials leading

seven sectors higher and telecommunications the greatest decliner. The Nasdaq traded up 35

points, or 0.71%, at 4,976. Gold is trading about 0.7% lower, crude oil is seen trading about

1.5% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.7% higher at about 1:00pm Chicago

time.Thursday, there were 951 contracts traded, down from 951 contracts traded on Wednesday.

Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Thursday decreased by 609 contracts to

10,769.

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Muted

Market as Farmers Rush to Plant Crops

May 01, 2015

The U.S. cash market was muted today as farmers work day and night,

taking advantage of the good weather to get their crops in the ground

before another round of wet weather moves through the U.S. Mid-South

late next week.Analysts expect farmers in Arkansas to plant a

considerable amount of rice this weekend, dissuading fears that there

will be a significant decrease in rice acreage due to delayed planting

caused by unseasonably wet weather.

4th may,2015 daily exclusive oryza rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Documents