Dear Subscriber,

We are pleased to send you the new issue of the FAO Rice Price Update: 

ˇ         In February 2014, the FAO All Rice Price Index (2002-2004=100) averaged 237 points, 10 points, or 4.7 percent, more than in January. The recovery of the index was exclusively driven by a sharp increase in medium rice quotations, as prices for Indica and aromatic rice varieties changed little overall.

ˇ         The upsurge in Japonica prices mainly reflects a tightening of supplies in the United States and prospects for reduced  2014 crops in drought-stricken California and Australia. By contrast, prices of Indica (both of lower and higher quality) and aromatic rice remained remarkably stable around January levels.

ˇ         Rice prices in the various origins followed contrasting patterns: prices gathered strength in Thailand, sustained by an appreciating Baht and reduced access  of traders to public stocks. Likewise, prices were underpinned by stronger currencies in India and Pakistan and by a tightening of supplies in the United States and South America suppliers. By contrast, prices edged lower in Viet Nam on thin import demand.

ˇ         Prices in the first two months of 2014 are estimated to average 2 percent lower than in January-February 2013. However, the drop was far more pronounced for the Indica rice segments, as the higher quality Indica prices retreated by 7 percent and the lower quality Indica by as much as 17 percent. Over the same period, prices of aromatic prices were slightly higher while Japonica rice surged by 9 percent.

For more information on prices, you may wish to consult the International Commodity Price Database  http://www.fao.org/economic/est/statistical-data/est-cpd/en/, which gives access to weekly prices of major traded products, including the high quality Thai white rice 100% B and the 100 % broken rice Thai A1 Super, from 1989 onwards.  Monthly international and domestic prices for rice and other selected commodities in 83 countries are available through the Food Price Data and Analysis Tool (http://www.fao.org/giews/pricetool/).

You might also be interested to visit the FAO World Food Situation portal, which provides monthly updates on the World Cereal Supply and Demand Situation and Outlook (http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/en/).

Kind regards,

Concepción

Concepción Calpe
Senior Economist,
Secretary, Intergovernmental Group on Rice
Trade and Markets Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome, Italy
D-803
Tel. 39-06-570 54136
Fax 39-06-570 54495
e-mail: [log in to unmask]

 

 



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