SITUATION AND OUTLOOK:

COMMENTARY AND CURRENT DATA

WORLD RICE SITUATION AND OUTLOOK

Global rice trade for 2002 is projected at 22.5 million tons, unchanged from a month ago but down 1.7 million tons from revised 2001. Global ending stocks in 2001/02 are forecast to decline to 125.9 million tons as slightly higher world consumption exceeds declining world production (milled basis).

Price quotes in Thailand and Vietnam have remained firm over the past month, but are beginning to show signs of weakening in face of limited demand and the anticipation of expected lower prices by spring as 2002 crops are harvested in Asia in the next couple of months.

Export price quotes for U.S. long grain grade #2/4 percent have fallen to $204 (FAS) per ton for the past few weeks, while quotes for medium grain #1/4 California rice are steady at $270 ex-spout per ton.

2001 Trade Changes

Selected Exporters

• Argentina up 75,000 tons to 350,000 based on stronger than expected exports in the last quarter.

• Burma up 168,000 tons to 668,000 due to strong last quarter shipments and final trade data.

• China up 159,000 tons to 1.859 million based on large shipments during the month of December and final trade data.

• Egypt up 75,000 tons to 725,000 based on increased export pace during last quarter.

Selected Importers

• Cote d’Ivoire up 75,000 tons to 700,000 due to larger than expected imports and demand for competitively priced rice.

Download the rice tables in:

Adobe Acrobat Format

Lotus Spreadsheet Format

Return to Table of Contents

Last modified: Thursday, November 13, 2003