Dear Subscriber,
We are pleased to send you the new issue of the FAO Rice Price Update.
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Brief commentary of the month:
ˇ May 2015 marked the ninth consecutive month of price declines in the international rice market, bringing the FAO All Rice Price Index (2002-2004=100) to 215 points, down by 3 points, or 1.5 percent, from April. Fragrant rice prices recorded the sharpest fall, which made the aromatic price sub-index subside 8 points, or 4.1 percent, from the previous month. Indica rice quotations held steadier, with the Higher Quality down by less than 1 percent and the Lower Quality marginally up. Prices in the Japonica rice segment remained under pressure, as reflected in the 4 points, or 1.7 percent, slide in the corresponding sub-index.
ˇ With the exception of Pakistan, all the other major origins witnessed a softening of prices. In Thailand, the benchmark Thai 100%B white rice shed 16 points, or 3.9 percent, but prices for parboiled and fragrant rice also incurred marked losses. Thailand’s market weakness mirrors a lacklustre demand from importers and the announcement of large sales of rice from public stocks through tenders in June and July. As competition for markets intensified, prices were also down in India and Viet Nam, while a tightening of supplies along with steadfast demand from Eastern Africa boosted non-basmati prices in Pakistan. Quotations in the United States also suffered sharp falls, as did those in Argentina and Uruguay, largely on slow export sales.
ˇ According to the FAO Index, international rice prices in the first five months of 2015 were 6.7 percent down, year-on-year. Most striking was the 27.4 percent retreat of prices of aromatic rice, especially Basmati, but Indica prices also averaged significantly lower.
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For more information on prices, you can consult the Food Price Monitoring and Analysis Tool (http://www.fao.org/giews/pricetool/), which gives access to quotations of major traded products, including the high quality Thai white rice 100% B and the 100 % broken rice Thai A1 Super, from 2000 onwards. The site also hosts domestic (retail or wholesale) prices for major food commodities in 93 countries.
You might also be interested to visit:
ˇ Quarterly Rice Market Monitor: http://www.fao.org/economic/est/publications/rice-publications/rice-market-monitor-rmm/en/
ˇ 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/
ˇ Monthly News Report on Grains: http://www.fao.org/economic/est/publications/grains-publications/monthly-news-report-on-grains-mnr/en/
ˇ Oilcrops Monthly Price and Policy Update (10 issues per year): http://www.fao.org/economic/est/publications/oilcrops-publications/oilcrops-monthly-price-and-policy-update/en/
ˇ Meat and Meat Products – Price and trade update (5 issues per year): http://www.fao.org/economic/est/est-commodities/meat/meat-and-meat-products-update/en/
ˇ Milk and Milk products – Price and trade update (5 issues per year): http://www.fao.org/economic/est/est-commodities/dairy/milk-and-milk-products/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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