WORLD MARKETS AND TRADE:

COMMENTARY AND CURRENT DATA

International: Export prices in Thailand have increased in line with the continued strengthening of the Thai Baht. There are no quotes out of Vietnam due to the export ban.

Domestic: U.S. #2/4 long grain milled rice remains unchanged from last month at $434 per ton, FOB. The spread between comparable qualities of Thai and U.S. rice is $120 per ton compared to $34 per ton this time last year. U.S. medium grain prices have increased by $50 over last month with quotes at $575 per ton, FOB.

• United States is up 200,000 tons to 3.2 million tons on larger expected exports to the Western Hemisphere.

• Uruguay is down 125,000 tons to 625,000 on lower production.
   

• Vietnam is down 200,000 to 4.8 million tons as a result of a strong pace to date in conjunction with the November export ban.

• Uruguay is up 100,000 to 800,000 tons after stronger than anticipated exports to Brazil and the EU. Uruguay is on track to break their 10-year record of 810,000 tons set in 2001.

• North Korea is down 150,000 to 150,000 tons with reduced food aid shipments.

• Indonesia is down 300,000 to 600,000 tons due to slow import pace for the first 9 months of the year.

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Last modified: Monday, December 11, 2006