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         The FAO All Rice Price index (2002-04=100) averaged 196 points in March 2016, barely 1 point (0.5 percent) less than in February. This confirmed the general stability that has dominated the market since November 2015, a period which has seen the index moving within a narrow range of 195-197 points. The slight decline last month was mainly the result of sliding quotations in the Japonica and, especially, the Aromatic rice markets, as there was little change for the Higher Quality Indica rice, while the Lower Quality Indica sub-index actually gained 3 points, or 1.5 percent.

ˇ         Export quotations in Thailand firmed somewhat last month, again supported by a stronger Baht, but also by the announcement of a G-to-G sale to China. The benchmark Thai 100%B white rice averaged USD 392 per tonne over the month, up from USD 389 in February and its highest level since July last year. In Viet Nam prices rebounded amid concerns about a tightening of supplies, making them recoup much of last month's losses. In India, export prices of Indica rice tended to firm somewhat, indirectly supported by large government procurement purchases, while those of basmati continued to soften. Large supplies weighed on prices in Pakistan, especially on Basmati rice. Export quotations were also under downward pressure in the Americas, including in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, where the harvests are underway, and in the United States, on very limited buying interest.

ˇ         According to the FAO All Rice Price Index, international rice prices in March 2016 were 11 percent lower than in March last year.
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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 95 countries.
You might also be interested to visit:

*         Quarterly Rice Market Monitor: http://www.fao.org/economic/est/publications/rice-publications/rice-market-monitor-rmm/en/

*         The FAO World Food Situation portal, in particular the monthly update on the World Cereal Supply and Demand Situation and Outlook: http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/en/

*         The Monthly News Report on Grains: http://www.fao.org/economic/est/publications/grains-publications/monthly-news-report-on-grains-mnr/en/

*         The Oilcrops Monthly Price and Policy Update (ten issues per year):   http://www.fao.org/economic/est/publications/oilcrops-publications/oilcrops-monthly-price-and-policy-update/en/

*         Meat and Meat Products - Price and trade update (four issues per year): http://www.fao.org/economic/est/est-commodities/meat/meat-and-meat-products-update/en/

*         Milk and Milk products - Price and trade update (four 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]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>


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