8th april,2015 global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Rice E-Newsletter April 8 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

China’s grain self-sufficiency policy lives on after its official demise in Commodity News 08/04/2015

On paper and in pronouncements, the contentious policies that regulate China’s great waves of grain have undergone a sea change in the last two years. 2014 saw reports claiming China had www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine axed its contentious grain self-sufficiency policy, and this year officials were said to signal a policy shift away from just bumper harvests to focus more on food safety and sustainability.In practice, though, these policy bombshells have proved more bluster than boom.Officials recognize that China’s grains sector is subject to policies that encourage overproduction, inefficiency, wasted stockpiles, elevated prices and, perversely, mounting imports of the same crops the country already has too much of as prices abroad fall. They also remain hamstrung by political tradition, fear of over-dependence on imports, systemic momentum and the often contradictory interests of the country’s rural and urban regions.

The result is regular tides of conflicting policy overtures, muddled further by jargon and arcane categories that obscure what ―self-sufficiency‖ actually means. Despite loud calls for modernization, government insistence on continued supply without regard for demand could prove unsustainable.―Chinese authorities are now acknowledging that eleven straight increases in grain production since 2004 came at high financial and environmental cost,‖ said Fred Gale, a senior economist at the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. Gale said that because prices for rice, wheat and corn in China were much higher than international prices, import demand was strong despite large stockpiles of each grain. There is one exception, though: Soybeans.Tough beansIn keeping with a trend of rapidly rising annual imports after the global food crisis of 2007-8, China imported about 74 million tons of soybeans in 2014, according to USDA records.

At roughly 84% of its total supply, the dominance of soybean imports is the result of tariff cuts made during the mid-90s when China was negotiating accession to the World Trade Organization, according to a report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. The vast majority went to feed the country’s swelling swine stocks, which have ballooned in response to a growing demand from the middle class for more meat.That trend is expected to continue, and potential growth in feedgrain imports would dovetail nicely with the recommendations of last year’s Central Number One Document, an annual batch of policy guidelines released by China’s State Council. In 2014, the State Council called for grain production to stabilize at about 550 million tons by 2020, well below the previous year’s harvest of 602 million tons.

It also told officials to pay more attention to food safety and quality.In late March of this year, officials at the China Development Forum in Beijing echoed those sentiments. Deputy director Han Jun of China’s top rural policy decision-making body, the Office of Rural Work Leading Group, recognized the price distortions in the country’s domestic grain markets and pointed out that subsidies were nearing the limit China accepted when it joined the World Trade Organization in 2001.Qian Keming, a senior economist at the Ministry of Agriculture, told the audience that 85% grain self-sufficiency in 2020 would be in line with the government’s grain security goals—an apparent 10% drop from the original target of 95% established in the mid90s.

But when it came to grain production goals, Qian said, ―we recommend still maintaining the present level, at roughly 610 million tons or so.‖ That would actually be an increase over the 2014 harvest of 607 million tons, which alone should bring the demise of China’s grain security policy into question. The percentage he gave for grain sufficiency in 2020 also warrants more

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine scrutiny, and Qian’s phrasing in its original Mandarin Chinese is key: ―grain security‖ applies to a category which, from its inception, included all varieties of grain.

Rectifying grains Hu Ruifa, a former member of the Center of Chinese Agriculture Policy now at the Beijing Institute of Technology, said that China’s original grain security goals didn’t take the role of feed grains into consideration. Hu said the government had since shifted to an emphasis on ―edible grain security‖, including rice, wheat and corn and excluding soybeans.That means Qian’s figure of 85% for 2020 matters insofar as it departs from the current level of grain self sufficiency, which takes everything the Chinese government considers ―grains‖ into account, including soybeans (and even potatoes).

By this yardstick China’s self-sufficiency rate in 2014 was only 87.9%, theoretically limiting grain import growth to just 2.9% between now and 2020. And based on Qian’s 720 million ton estimate for demand in 2020, imports in that year would account for only about 108 million tons of China’s total annual grain supply, up around 35 million tons from imports in 2014.That is no small amount, but it does not signal an end to grain self-sufficiency. Because price floors for rice and grain are more formalized and statutory than that for corn, import gains are more likely to come from the latter. But don’t expect corn to follow suit with the fast and loose soybean sector. ―The thinking on corn by Chinese officials has loosened up,‖ said Gale at the USDA. ―There is an increasingly prevalent view that some corn could be imported, if necessary, because it is used as animal feed, not staple food. However, imported corn will only be permitted to play a supplementary role to domestic corn. Chinese officials are on guard against corn or any other sub-sector becoming dominated by imports and foreign companies, as has happened with soybeans.‖ Go big, group up Self-sufficiency may remain holy writ for the mainland’s grains, but that doesn’t rule out reform altogether. While it allows for only a minor role in China’s food supply for imports, the 2015 edition of the Central Number One Document also outlines ambitious plans to restructure the farming sector by fostering the growth of large-scale agribusiness on par with that seen in the US.That drive will be challenged by limitations on land rights over agricultural land in the countryside that farmers only own the working rights to. William Niebur, vice president for hybrid seed producer DuPont Pioneer North Asia, said land reform would prove fundamental to the creation of larger farms in China. It just won’t happen all at once. ―[L]and reform will progress at a differential rate in Northeast and Northwest or the Central River Valleys,‖ Niebur said. ―It’s going to move province by province and within the provinces in a unique and different way.‖That reform will accommodate the additional pressure to urbanize, resulting in an outflow from the countryside that will shrink the available labor supply, he said, driving mechanization and higher technology utilization. It wouldn’t be the first such tectonic shift for agriculture since Niebur first visited China.―I can remember traveling here in www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine the 90’s as a research leader for Pioneer and was amazed at just how poor the road systems were, and how loosely connected rural environments were to urban environments,‖ Niebur said.

That soon changed as the leadership pushed forward infrastructure improvements to rural-urban connectivity and productivity upgrades accomplished through hybridizing crops, increased fertilization and rudimentary tillage.Reforms from 2004-2006 saw a gradual end to China’s agricultural tax and the introduction of some subsidies for mechanization, which Niebur said let farmers know they would no longer be subject to a heavier tax burden than urban residents. The subsequent introduction of price floors for key crops – rice, wheat and corn – helped make farming them an attractive enough prospect that production soared, even as prices have become seriously distorted in recent years.Niebur said that the current price disparity was a problem— one he expected would be dealt with. ―At least in my thirty years in working in agriculture, everything that I have seen that has been unsustainable eventually stopped and it stopped by design, or it stopped by necessity.‖ Meat over wheat Change is coming to China’s agricultural sector. Where exactly the farmers who have become dependent on subsidized grain prices ultimately fit into the mechanized, mass-farming future envisioned by policymakers isn’t entirely clear. But the central government’s urbanization policy clearly indicates that authorities want rural residents to move to the nation’s cities.Once there, demand for rice and wheat are expected to shrink as meat consumption will continue to drive feedgrain production up. That could in turn make feedgrains a national security priority as corn and soybean-fed pork, chicken and cattle become growing staples of the typical mainland Chinese diet.Such demand could conceivably force China to open up to an increase in imports, particularly for corn. But so long as self-sufficiency predominates in agricultural policymakers’ minds, any grain imports will only ever supplement a mostly home-grown supply.

Source: China Economic Review http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/chinas-grain-self-sufficiency-policy-lives-on-after-its-official-demise/

Vietnam rice prices steady on China demand ReutersWednesday, Apr 08, 2015 IMAGE:A farmer walks on a paddy field in Phat Tich village, outside Hanoi

HANOI - Vietnamese rice prices steadied this week on Chinese purchases, while export quotations for Thai rice dropped slightly on thin demand, traders said on Wednesday.The price for Vietnam's 5-per cent broken rice was at $365-$370 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon Port, on Wednesday, steady near last week's levels, after climbing to $370-$372 a tonne on Monday."China has reopened the border for buying Vietnamese rice so it helped raise prices earlier this week," a trader at a European firm in Ho Chi Minh City said.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine There is, however, no clarity on how much or for how long China will buy, traders said.Vietnamese exporters buying paddy under a government-backed stockpiling plan have also helped to keep prices stable during a major crop harvest due to end this month, traders said.State purchases, aimed to set aside from trade 2 million tonnes of paddy, or 1 million tonnes of husked rice, are due to end on April 15."But besides China, the market is quiet, so prices are not rising," another trader in Ho Chi Minh City said.In Thailand, the world's largest exporter followed by India and Vietnam, the 5-per cent broken rice eased to $395 a tonne, FOB basis, from $398 last Wednesday."There should have been buyers now as off-season rice has come to markets already but there aren't any," a Bangkok-based trader said, adding that Vietnamese and Pakistani rice were more competitive.

Thai baht, which edged up slightly against the dollar this week, may push Thai rice prices up, the trader said. The baht has risen 1.11 per cent so far in 2015.Thailand's huge stocks of around 17 million tonnes, however, continue to drag on domestic prices, traders said.Thai 5-per cent broken rice's average price in the first quarter ended March dropped 6.2 per cent from a year ago to $416 a tonne, while Vietnam's similar grade fell 6.8 per cent to $364, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said.Pakistan's 25-per cent broken rice stood at an average $320 a tonne in the first quarter, the cheapest among four origins, followed by $343 in Vietnam, $349 in India and $397 in Thailand, the FAO said in a report for April. http://business.asiaone.com/news/vietnam-rice-prices-steady-china-demand#sthash.rXTzj6cs.dpuf

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Prices of Commercial Rice going Down

Prices of commercial rice in the market continue to decline as palay summer harvest season has reached its peak. In Abucay Market, (above photo)there is as low as P30.00 per kilogram well milled rice while the lowest rice available in Galas Market(photo below) is P32.00 per kilogram rice.

Prices of rice stable April 08, 2015 - 20:49

By REUEL JOHN F. LUMAWAG

THE National Food Authority (NFA) in Davao City said the price of rice in the market remains stable as of Wednesday.Based on the price monitoring of NFA-Davao City, the retail price of regular milled rice was pegged at P32 to P34 with a prevailing price of P33, while wholesale was at P30 to P32 with prevailing price of P31.Retail price for well-milled rice is at P37 to P39 with a prevailing price of P38, while its wholesale price is at P35 to P37 with a prevailing price of P36.Virgilio Alerta, NFA-Davao City provincial manager, told Sun.Star Davao in a phone interview that the price remained stable due to sufficient supply in the market coming from North Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Maguindanao.

He said that at present, there is no more harvest in the rice producing provinces of Davao Region since the lean season has started.Alerta said consumers can expect an increase in the price of rice during the lean months due to a lower supply in the market.He said during the lean months, they will increase the volume of NFA rice sold in the market to ensure that the price of commercial rice remain stable.Alerta said they are expecting a delivery of 160,000 bags of NFA rice this month to augment their 390,000 bags in their inventory in the city.He said the accredited retailers of NFA rice have reduced the volume of NFA rice being sold in the market since consumers would opt for the commercial rice, which is still at a lower price at present. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2015/04/08/prices-rice-stable-401500 www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Gov’t requests to double rice exports to China 07.04.2015

The Ministry of Commerce is working with its Chinese counterparts to renew a rice trade agreement, which will likely expire this month, and has requested to double the existing 100,000-tonne quota of rice Cambodia is currently able to export to China, a ministry spokesman said yesterday.Minister Sun Chanthol, in a letter to the vice minister at the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, has asked for the rise in rice export quota for the period of May 2015 to April2016.

The letter comes off the back of the successful implementation of the current 12-month quota ahead of time. Cambodia had signed a one-year agreement last August to export 100,000 tonnes of rice to China.―The letter seeks support to increase the quota to 200,000 tonnes between China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO) and [Cambodia] state-owned Green Trade Company,‖ said Ken Ratha, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce.

Ratha said the two governments have a close relationship and that the ministry will leverage the successful implementation of the current quota to have it raised. He added that extending the agreement is key to increasing and diversifying the Kingdom’s rice export destinations.―I think it is important to open up the market and we will try to increase the volume of exports,‖ Ratha said. ―We will keep going with the relationship and another MoU with the Chinese.‖China, in the past, had expressed concerns over the quality and hygiene standards of Cambodian agricultural products, but Ratha said the ministry had received no complaints from the Chinese government and that the agreement has been a ―good achievement‖.

Song Saran, CEO of AMRU Rice Co, said it was important to extend the agreement as China, along with Malaysia, are now Cambodia’s biggest rice export destinations in Asia. But, he said Cambodia would need to up its procurement to meet the added demand, as well as maintain quality standards, ―Cambodia needs to find the good quality rice and supply China what China needs,‖ Saran said.He added that diversifying export destinations, are critical to ―transforming Cambodia’s rice industry‖.―It is very, very important to renew the MoU with China, otherwise we will not reach the one million tonnes target,‖ he said.David Van, advisor to the Cambodia Rice Federation, told the Post on Sunday that the CRF has appealed to the minister of commerce to let them act as signatory during the next round of quota negotiations, instead of Green Trade, citing other food organisations that are in charge of similar arrangemen ts. ―TREA in Thailand and Vinafood have both managed directly any quota with China and CRF is advocating for the same approach so that we could fairly and transparently reallocate any quota obtained among all CRF members accordingly,‖ said Van.Export figures released by the CRF last week, showed that China was the biggest importer of Cambodian rice, importing 36,081 tonnes of rice, followed by Malaysia and France. Thanks largely to the boost in shipments to China, the Kingdom increased its exports in March to 75,867 tonnes, doubling the 37,676 tonnes produced in February.

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Burma’s Rice Exports Up 40% in 2014-15

By KYAW HSU MON / THE IRRAWADDY| Wednesday, April 8, 2015 |

Women set rice seedlings into paddy fields on the outskirts of Rangoon in 2009. (Photo: Reuters)

RANGOON — Burma’s rice exports rose more than 40 percent in the 2014-15 fiscal year, with shipments to regional heavyweight China dominating the trade despite Beijing’s official ban on imports of the product from Burma, according to data provided by Soe Tun, the chairman of the Myanmar Farmers Association and joint secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation.Figures from the Ministry of Commerce put total rice exports at more than 1.7 million tons in the fiscal year ending March 31, bringing in nearly US$645 million. Exports were shipped to 64 countries including China and Japan, as well as other nations of Asean, Europe and Africa.―Among them, China purchased more than 1.1 million rice tons this year via border trade. Even though they [Beijing] banned rice exports to China, the volume still increased,‖ Soe Tun told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.In 2014, China officially banned rice imports from Burma, demanding that a trade agreement be signed guaranteeing that most rice is milled and meets certain quality standards. China had long been, and continues to be, one of Burma’s biggest customers for rice, much of which is harvested in the Irrawaddy Delta and shipped over land borders in Shan and Kachin states.Burma’s government does not enforce the ban, effectively making it a trade that is legal on one side of the countries’ shared border and illegal on the other.Early this year, members of the Myanmar Rice Federation and officials from the Ministry of Commerce met with Chinese officials to discuss legalizing Burma’s rice exports once again.Soe Tun said that while Burma had proposed to export 1 million tons of rice to China this year, the agreement drawn up between the two countries only allows for 100,000 tons. www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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That arrangement, legalizing a small proportion of the actual trade on both sides of the border, has not yet been implemented, Soe Tun said.―I expect that legal rice exports to China will begin in May,‖ he said.―As an initial step, the public company Mapco [Myanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation] will export 3,000 tons of rice to China in May.‖A Burmese rice milling company and the Chinese firm CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd. in February signed a joint venture Memorandum of Understanding to improve the quality and capacity of rice milling operations in Burma. The partnership aims to boost Burmese rice exports, in part by improving the quality of its rice as well as milling processes before exporting to China.

The 2014-15 fiscal year’s rice export volume exceed the expectations of the Myanmar Rice Federation, which had predicted the figure at 1.5 million tons.Thaung Win, a rice exporter who also acts as secretary of the Myanmar Rice Millers Association, said that outside the China trade, rice shipments to some EU countries, Japan and other Asean nations were also on the rise.According to the Myanmar Rice Exporters Association, Burma’s rice exports in 2013-14 stood at about 1.2 million tons, down from 1.47 million tons the year before. President Thein Sein has set a target to export 4 million tons of rice by 2020.

Reliable data on rice exports prior to the installation of Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government are hard to come by, but Burma was once known as the ―rice bowl of Asia‖ and was a major industry player until decades of economic mismanagement by success military regimes sent exports tumbling.A World Bank report in June found that Burma could greatly increase its agricultural exports if it improved the quality of rice by expanding and upgrading domestic rice mills. The report said that since economic and political reforms began in 2011, rice exports have significantly risen, but in the past two years export volumes had leveled off at about 1.3 million tons annually.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Apr 09 Nagpur, Apr 9 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices recovered again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on good buying support from local millers amid restricted arrival from producing regions. Notable rise on NCDEX, weak overseas arrival and repeated enquiries from South-based millers also pushed up prices, according to sources. *

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FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.

TUAR * Tuar quoted nearly steady here in open market in absence of buyers amid ample stock in ready position. * Batri dal firmed up in open market here on increased buying support from local www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine traders thin supply from producing belts. * Major rice varieties reported down in open market here on poor buying support from local traders amid increased supply from producing regions like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. * In Akola, Tuar - 6,000-6,100, Tuar dal - 8,700-8,900, Udid at 7,200-7,500, Udid Mogar (clean) - 8,400-8,800, Moong - 8,800-8,900, Moong Mogar (clean) 10,600-10,900, Gram - 3,700-3,900, Gram Super best bold - 4,500-4,600 for 100 kg. * Wheat and other commodities remained steady in open market in weak trading activity, according to sources.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 3,200-4,050 3,200-3,900 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 5,300-6,730 5,200-6,640 Moong Auction n.a.

6,000-6,300 Udid Auction n.a.

4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a.

2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Gram Super Best n.a.

Gram Medium Best 4,200-4,400 4,200-4,400 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.

Gram Mill Quality 3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800 Desi gram Raw 3,650-3,750 3,650-3,750 Gram Filter new 4,000-4,100 4,000-4,100 Gram Kabuli 6,100-7,100 6,100-7,100 Gram Pink 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600 Tuar Fataka Best 8,900-9,100 8,900-9,100 Tuar Fataka Medium 8,600-8,800 8,600-8,800 Tuar Dal Best Phod 8,200-8,400 8,200-8,400 Tuar Dal Medium phod 7,700-8,000 7,700-8,000 Tuar Gavarani New 5,950-6,050 5,950-6,050 Tuar Karnataka 6,350-6,500 6,350-6,500 Tuar Black 9,000-9,300 9,000-9,300 Masoor dal best 7,000-7,200 7,000-7,200 Masoor dal medium 6,700-6,900 6,700-6,900 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 10,800-11,200 10,800-11,200 Moong Mogar Medium best 9,800-10,500 9,800-10,500 Moong dal Chilka 8,900-9,800 8,900-9,800 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Moong Chamki best 8,900-10,000 8,900-10,000 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 8,900-9,200 8,900-9,200 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,800-8,500 7,800-8,500 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 6,100-6,400 6,100-6,400 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,600 4,350-4,550 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,200-3,300 3,200-3,300 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,875-3,025 2,875-3,025 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 2,550-2,950 2,550-2,950 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,500 3,500-4,500 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,700 1,400-1,700 Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,400 2,100-2,400 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,200 1,950-2,200 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,450-2,700 2,450-2,700 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,400 1,300-1,400 Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100 Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,700 2,400-2,850 Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,900-3,200 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,800 1,600-1,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300 Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700 Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,150-3,700 Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,900-4,300 Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 4,200-4,500 Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,100 4,500-5,100 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-9,500 8,200-9,700 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,500 Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,400 4,400-4,600 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,600 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,250 2,100-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 40.2 degree Celsius (104.3 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

21.7 degree Celsius (71.1 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - n.a, lowest - n.a.

Rainfall : nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night.

Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 39 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

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New Prefeasibility Report Released on a Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant

By PR Rocket on April 8, 2015POSTED ON APRIL 8, 2015

BY ADMIN

Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant Project Report This prefeasibility report published by IMARC Group focuses on setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant. This includes production process, raw material requirements, land, labour, machinery, other capital investments, income, running costs, profit margins, breakeven, etc.

IMARC’s latest study ―Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant Project Report: Industry Trends, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Cost and Revenue‖ provides a techno-commercial roadmap for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant. The study, which has been done by one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms, covers all the requisite aspects of the parboiled and white rice industry. This ranges from macro overview of the market to micro details of the industry performance, processing and manufacturing requirements, project cost, project funding, project economics including expected returns on investment, profit margins, etc. This report is a must-read for entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who have any kind of stake or are planning to foray into the parboiled rice and white rice industry in any manner.

Key Questions Answered in This Report?

• What are the key success and risk factors in the parboiled and white rice manufacturing industry?

• How has the parboiled and white rice market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

• What is the structure of the parboiled and white rice industry and who are the key players?

• What are the various unit operations involved in a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

• What is the total size of land required for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

• What are the machinery requirements for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

• What are the raw material requirements for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

• What are the utility requirements for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

• What are the manpower requirements for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

• What are the infrastructure costs for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine • What are the capital costs for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

• What are the operating costs for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

• What should be the pricing mechanism of parboiled and white rice?

• What will be the income and expenditures for a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant?

• What is the time required to break-even?

Table of Contents 1 Research Methodology 2 Executive Summary 3 Introduction 4 Global Industry Analysis: Rice, Parboiled Rice and White Rice 4.1 Global Rice Industry: Overall Market Performance 4.1.1 Market Trends 4.1.2 Market Breakup by Country 4.1.3 Market Breakup by End-Use 4.2 Global Parboiled and White Rice Industry: Overall Market Performance 4.2.1 Current, Historical and Future Market Trends 5 Myanmar: Rice Industry 5.1 Market Trends 5.2 Competitive Landscape 6 Trade Data: Rice and Parboiled Rice 6.1 Trade Data: Rice 6.1.1 Imports by Major Countries 6.1.2 Exports by Major Countries 6.2 Trade Data: Parboiled Rice 6.2.1 Imports by Major Countries 6.2.2 Exports by Major Countries 7 Parboiled and White Rice Industry: Key Success and Risk Factors 8 Manufacturing Process: Parboiled Rice and White Rice 8.1 Parboiled Rice and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Conversion Rates of Feedstocks 8.1.1 Parboiled Rice from Paddy 8.1.2 White Rice from Paddy 8.1.3 White Rice from Semi-processed Rice 8.2 Parboiled Rice and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Detailed Process Flow 8.2.1 Parboiled Rice from Paddy 8.2.2 White Rice from Paddy 8.2.3 White Rice from Semi-processed Rice 8.3 Parboiled Rice and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Various Unit Operations Involved 8.3.1 Parboiled Rice from Paddy 8.3.2 White Rice from Paddy 8.3.3 White Rice from Semi-processed Rice 8.4 Parboiled Rice and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Major Machinery Pictures 9 Project Details, Requirements and Costs Involved 9.1 Land, Location and Site Development 9.2 Plant Layout 9.3 Plant Machinery

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 9.4 Raw Materials 9.5 Packaging 9.6 Utilities 9.7 Manpower 9.8 Other Capital Investments 10 Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Loans and Financial Assistance 11 Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Project Economics 11.1 Capital Cost of the Project 11.2 Techno-Economic Parameters 11.3 Product Pricing 11.4 Income Projections 11.5 Expenditure Projections 11.6 Financial Analysis List of Figures Figure 4 1: Global: Rice Production: Breakup by Country (in %), 2014 Figure 4 2: Global: Rice Consumption: Breakup by Country (in %), 2014 Figure 4 3: Global: Rice Market: Breakup by End-Use (In %), 2014 Figure 4 4: Global: Parboiled Rice Consumption (in Million Tons), 2007-2014 Figure 4 5: Global: White Rice Consumption (in Million Tons), 2007-2014 Figure 5 1: Myanmar: Rice Production (000’ Tons), 2007-2014 Figure 5 2: Myanmar: Rice Consumption (000’ Tons), 2007-2014 Figure 6 1: Global: Rice: Import Volume Breakup by Country (in %), 2013 Figure 6 2: Global: Rice: Export Volume Breakup by Country (in %), 2013 Figure 6 3: Global: Parboiled Rice: Import Volume Breakup by Country (in %), 2012 Figure 6 4: Global: Parboiled Rice: Export Volume Breakup by Country (in %), 2012 Figure 8 1: Parboiled Rice Manufacturing Plant: Conversion Rate of Feedstocks Figure 8 2: White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Conversion Rate of Feedstocks Figure 8 3: White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Conversion Rate of Feedstocks Figure 8 4: Paddy to Parboiled Rice: Detailed Process Flow Figure 8 5: Paddy to White Rice: Detailed Process Flow Figure 8 6: Semi-processed Rice to White Rice: Detailed Process Flow Figure 8 7: Parboiled Rice Manufacturing Plant: Various Unit Operations Involved Figure 8 8: White Rice Manufacturing Plant (From Paddy): Various Unit Operations Involved Figure 8 9: White Rice Manufacturing Plant (From Semi Processed Rice): Various Unit Operations Involved Figure 9 1: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Proposed Plant Layout Figure 11 1: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Breakup of Capital Costs (in %) Figure 11 2: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Breakup of Production Costs (in %) List of Tables Table 4 1: Rice: World Supply and Distribution (Million Tons), 2007-2014 Table 6 1: Global: Rice: Import Data by Country (in US$ and Tons), 2013 Table 6 2: Global: Rice: Export Data by Country (in US$ and Tons), 2013 Table 6 3: Global: Parboiled Rice: Import Volumes by Country (in 000’ Tons), 2007-2012 Table 6 4: Global: Parboiled Rice: Export Volumes by Country (in 000’ Tons), 2007-2012 Table 9 1: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Costs Related to Land and Site

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Development (in US$) Table 9 2: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Costs Related to Civil Works (in US$) Table 9 3: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Machinery Costs (in US$) Table 9 4: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Raw Material Requirements Table 9 5: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Costs Related to Utilities (in US$) Table 9 6: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Costs Related to Salaries and Wages (in US$) Table 9 7: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Costs Related to Other Capital Investments (in US$) Table 10 1: Details of Financial Assistance Offered by Financial Institutions Table 10 2: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Yearly Instalments (in US$) Table 11 1: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Capital Costs (in US$) Table 11 2: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Techno-Economic Parameters Table 11 3: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Income Projections (in US$) Table 11 4: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Expenditure Projections (in US$) Table 11 5: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Cash Flow Analysis Without Considering the Income Tax Liability Table 11 6: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Cash Flow Analysis on Considering the Income Tax Liability To buy the complete report or to get a free sample, please contact: IMARC Group Asia: Email: apac@imarcgroup.com Phone: +91-120-415-5099 IMARC Group North America: Email: america@imarcgroup.com Phone: +1-631-791-1145 IMARC Group Europe, Middle East & Africa: Email:ema@imarcgroup.com Phone: +44-702-409-7331 To know more please visit: http://www.imarcgroup.com/parboiled-white-rice-manufacturingplant/ About IMARC Group The International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group is a leading adviser on management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.IMARC’s information products include major market, scientific, economic and technological developments for business leaders in pharmaceutical, industrial, and high technology organizations. Market forecasts and industry analysis for biotechnology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, travel and tourism, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the top of the company’s expertise.IMARC’s tailored approach combines unfathomable insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close cooperation at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine unmatchable competitive advantage, build more proficient organizations, and secure lasting results.

To know more about our company, please visit: http://www.imarcgroup.com/ Media Contact Company Name: IMARC Group Contact Person: Krishna Sharma Email: Send Email Phone: +91-120-415-5099 City: Noida State: Uttar Pradesh Country: India Website: http://www.imarcgroup.com/

APEDA NEWS International Benchmark Price Price on: 08-04-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

1

Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

5650

2

Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

4125

3

Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)

3425

1

Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4070

2

Australian extra light/light amber, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4730

3

Chinese extra light amber, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

1975

1

South Africa, HPS 70/80 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t)

1550

2

South African, HPS 40/50 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t)

1550

3

US 38/42 Runners, CFR NW Europe (USD/t

1380

Apricots

Honey

Peanuts

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Source:agra-net

For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 08-04-2015 Domestic Prices Product

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

1

Cachar (Assam)

Other

2000

2500

2

Bargarh (Orissa)

Other

2100

2300

3

Shillong (Meghalaya)

Other

3400

3600

1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1350

1450

2

Bonai (Orissa )

Other

1450

1600

3

Gumla(Jharkhand)

Other

2100

2500

1

Sirhind (Punjab)

Other

2500

3500

2

Solan(Himachal Pradesh)

Other

4000

4500

3

Mechua(West Bengal)

Other

2200

2700

1

Deogarh (Orissa)

Other

1500

2500

2

Gumla (Jharkhand)

Other

1400

1800

3

Surat(Gujarat)

Other

600

1000

Rice

Wheat

Mousambi

Cabbage

Source:agra-net

For more info

Egg

Rs per 100 No Price on 08-04-2015

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Product

Market Center

Price

1

Pune

280

2

Mysore

284

3

Nagapur

245

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package Price on 08-04-2015

Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

High Package:50 lb cartons

Potatoes 1

Atlanta

2

Baltimore

3

Detroit

Colorado Idaho

Wisconsin

Russet

21

21.50

Russet

15

16

Russet

18

18.50 Package: cartons film wrapped

Cauliflower 1

Atlanta

2

Chicago

3

Detroit

Mexico California California

White

26

26

White

26

29

White

24

28.50 Package: cartons tray pack

Apples 1

Atlanta

2

Baltimore

3

Chicago

Washington

Virginia Michigan

24

25

Red Delicious

21

22

Red Delicious

17.50

18.50

Red Delicious

Source:USDA

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

APEDA NEWS International Benchmark Price Price on: 07-04-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

1

Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2100

2

Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2000

3

Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

1800

1

Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4600

2

Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

5100

3

Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

3000

1

Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

4170

2

Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

1590

3

Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps technical grade, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

3625

Garlic

Ginger

Guar Gum Powder

Source:agra-net

For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 06-04-2015 Domestic Prices Product

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

1

Amreli (Gujarat)

Other

1205

3515

2

Theni (Tamil Nadu)

Other

1280

1360

Jowar(Sorgham)

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 3

Pitlam (Telangana)

Local

1200

1300

1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1430

1430

2

Koraput (Assam )

Other

1310

1330

3

Deoli(Rajasthan)

Other

1350

1480

1

Harippad (Kerala)

Other

2500

2500

2

Sirhind(Punjab)

Other

2000

3000

3

Nagpur(Maharashtra)

Other

1000

3100

1

Chala (Kerala)

Other

1700

1750

2

Banki (Orissa)

Other

2800

3000

3

Sirhind(Punjab)

Other

1000

1400

Maize

Pine Apple

Brinjal

Source:agra-net

For more info

Egg

Rs per 100 No Price on 06-04-2015 Product

Market Center

Price

1

Ahmedabad

272

2

Chittoor

278

3

Hyderabad

232

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package Price on 06-04-2015

Product

Market Center

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Origin

Variety

Page 20

Low

High

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Onions Dry

Package:50 lb sacks

1

Atlanta

Washington

Yellow

14

17

2

Baltimore

Mexico

Yellow

15

16

3

Detroit

Nevada

Yellow

15

15.50

Carrots

Package: 20 1-lb film bags

1

Atlanta

California

Baby Peeled

18.50

21

2

Chicago

California

Baby Peeled

17

17.50

3

Dallas

Arizona

Baby Peeled

17.75

18

Grapes

Package: 18 lb containers bagged

1

Atlanta

Chile

Red Globe

27

27.50

2

Baltimore

Peru

Red Globe

23

23

3

Chicago

Peru

Red Globe

18.50

22

Source:USDA

Why Bill Gates’ foundation supports IRRI Nestor Corrales @NCorralesINQ INQUIRER.net 3:35 PM | Thursday, April 9th, 2015 Bill Gates. AFP FILE PHOTO

Senior Officials of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) have visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna to get updates on the food and nutrition programs the foundation has been supporting.―We are thankful that the BMGF has come for updates on the food and nutrition security initiatives that they support,‖ Robert Zeigler, Director General of IRRI said in a www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine statement.―The foundation is a staunch partner in applying the best of science so that people in the rice-eating world will not go hungry,‖ Zeigler added. The IRRI said senior officials including Pamela Anderson, Director of the Agricultural Development Program, and Gary Atlin, Senior Program Officer visited the site and had a tour at IRRI’s research facilities.

Scientists gave briefings to the BMGF officials on key advances, including the latest on climate change-ready rice and healthier varieties that aim to help solve micronutrient deficiencies, which afflict about 2 billion people globally.IRRI scientists showed to the BMGF team experimental rice plots for the development of flood- and drought-tolerant rice.IRRI said the stress-tolerant varieties hold the promise of improving the livelihoods of the world’s poorest farmers who till lands most vulnerable to climate change.

The Inquirer earlier reported that Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates had a six-hour ―confidential‖ visit at the IRRI’s headquarters in Laguna.Immigration sources have said that Gates arrived in Puerto Princesa City on April 4 on a private jet with US registry number N887WM.The American billionaire has evaded the public until he was sighted at the IRRI headquarters on Wednesday morning.IRRI is a major grantee of the BMGF.

http://technology.inquirer.net/41643/why-bill-gates-foundation-supports-irri#ixzz3W40aqeFS

Bill Gates deputy visits PH for rice research updates (2nd UPDATE) Pamela Anderson, a director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been meeting with IRRI officials, but reports say the world's richest man himself also visited Rappler.com Published 4:32 PM, Apr 08, 2015 Updated 1:13 PM, Apr 09, 2015

BILLIONAIRE'S LIST. Microsoft co-founder and philantropist Bill Gates is still the world's richest man in 2015. File photo by Cole Burston / EPA

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – The world’s richest man, Bill Gates, was reportedly spotted in Los Baños, Laguna – the hub of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on Wednesday, April 8.A few social media posts and online reports said the billionaire philanthropist was seen in IRRI Wednesday morning.Tony Lambino, IRRI head of communications, neither confirmed nor denied the visit.Lambino told Rappler, however, that Dr. Pamela Anderson, the agricultural development director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) had been in IRRI since the weekend.He said Anderson and other senior officers of the BMGF were in the www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine country to get updates on the food and nutrition security programs the foundation is supporting, with an annual commitment of $18 million. The briefings of IRRI officials with Anderson concluded Wednesday morning."The foundation is IRRI's largest philanthropic donor," Lambino said in a text message.Apparently, a private jet with registration number N887WM and tied to Gates, was in the country as early as April 4, Interaksyon.com reported.An IRRI employee shared with Rappler that social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, were blocked in the premises of the institute at around 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, before and after the chopper reportedly carrying Gates landed at IRRI. The chopper was at IRRI from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, the employee shared.

Research in progress Scientists at IRRI updated the BMGF team on advances in research on climate-change-ready rice and varieties that promise to help solve micronutrient deficiencies.―We are thankful that the BMGF has come for updates on the food and nutrition security initiatives that they support,‖ said Robert Zeigler, Director General of IRRI.―The foundation is a staunch partner in applying the best of science so that people in the rice-eating world will not go hungry.‖The foundation has invested in IRRI’s research for Golden Rice, a genetically modified crop that is seen to help solve hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

"It is hoped that Golden Rice will help improve the health of millions of children and adults across the Philippines and Bangladesh," the foundation said in a statement.Environmental groups oppose the GMO-developed rice, warning of its potential hazardous impact to the environment.The BMGF team was also shown experimental rice plots for the development of flood- and drought-tolerant rice. These varieties promise to improve the livelihoods of the world's poorest farmers by ensuring a good harvest despite weather and climate upsets.For instance, flood-tolerant rice are supposed to thrive even after more than 14 days underwater.

Non-tolerant rice normally die after just 4 days of submergence.

Philanthropist BIllionaire philanthropist Gates, with an estimated fortune of $79.2 billion according toForbes, stepped down as chairman of Microsoft in 2014, and has been since focusing on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.Co-chaired with wife Melinda, the foudation teams up with partners around the world to take on some tough challenges: extreme poverty and poor health in developing countries, and the failures of America’s education system."We focus on only a few issues because we think that’s the best way to have great impact, and we focus on these issues in particular because we think they are the biggest barriers that prevent people from making the most of their lives," the Gates earlier wrote, explaining the foundation's work. – with a report from Lynda C. Corpuz, Pia Ranada / Rappler.com

Why Food Prices Remain Stable

By Moses Owolabi 7:07 amApril 8, 20150 Economy

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Many Nigerians have not stopped to ask themselves why food prices have remained stable despite the devaluation of the naira. The naira now exchanges for about N200+ to a dollar, yet the price of rice, which used to be an imported Nigerian staple has remained stable, ditto for wheat and other imported food items. How come? The Agric minister, Dr Akinwunmi Adeshina, told the story in a lucid, poetic and romantic manner at the recently held Raw Materials Clusters Summit in Abuja. He said despite the changes in the value of the naira, food prices have remained relatively stable due to increased food production and the substantially reduced import bill. ―Government launched the Growth Enhancement Support scheme to provide targeted support for seeds and fertilizers to 20 million farmers within four years…The production from these supports exceeded 21million metric tons of additional food,‖ he explained. The minister added that in rice, 24 large integrated private sector rice mills have sprung up with a total capacity of 800,000 metric tons. Said he: ―The quality challenges of local rice have been overcome by these modern mills with products comparable to imported milled rice, Aliko Dangote is investing $1billion in 450,000 ha of rice fields and five rice mills with combined capacity of 1million metric tons. ‖ Another glad tiding was that of the successes recorded in the bid to reduce the huge wheat import bill of N654 billion ($4 billion) a year by partially replacing wheat in bread and confectionaries with High Quality Cassava Flour with the launch of 20% cassava bread by four large industrial bakeries and four master bakers in 2012; and which increased to eight industrial bakers and 40 master bakers in 2014. Nigeria’s two largest wheat millers, Honeywell and Flour Mills of Nigeria who together account for 70% of total flour milling capacity in Nigeria have launched commercial 10% HQCF composite flour. Need we say more? That is the good part of the story. The sad part is that no single Nigerian process equipment fabricator was involved in the installation of the 24 large scale rice mills. And the fabricators are not happy with the (turnkey?) arrangement the government had with the manufacturers.

One of them swore that the initial arrangement was for the government to import only a few units for the fabricators to study and partake in their installations so that eventually there would be no need to import more units, rather the remaining units would be made locally. The minister probably didn’t really see the need for the involvement of the local fabricators and regarded it as a waste of time, something which could rob the Jonathan Administration of the well-deserved honour of being the government that took Nigeria from being a food importer to food exporter.

But did the minister think of after-sales maintenance? Was there any solid arrangement to ensure that Nigerians would be able to handle the maintenance and repairs, just in case the mills break down? Or are we going to keep on importing expertise to do the repairs each time there is a need for such? Is there any arrangement at technology transfer from the manufacturers to Nigeria, such that Nigerians could manufacture the mills wholly in the nearest future? These questions earnestly beg for answers! http://dailytimes.com.ng/why-food-prices-remain-stable/

PDS rice scam: IAS officers summoned by hhattisgarh ACB By: Express News Service | Raipur | Updated: April 8, 2015 9:03 pm www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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The Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has finally sent notices to senior IAS officers Dr Alok Shukla and Anil Tuteja for their alleged role in the PDS rice scam. While Shukla was the food secretary, Tuteja headed the Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd when the ACB raided its offices across the state and unearthed the scam. Both were transferred after the raids. Shukla is Health secretary at present, Tuteja heads the Panchayat department.Shukla’s business partner Raipur-based Dr Anand Dubey has also been issued a notice today. ―We have called them for recording their statement about their role in the scam,‖ said a police officer.This is the first instance when an IAS officer has been called by the police for interrogation in a corruption case in Chhattisgarh.The Indian Express had first reported that Shukla and Tuteja were among those top government functionaries who had figured as alleged scam beneficiaries in documents recovered from Tuteja’s PA Girish Sharma. Huge amount was shown to have transferred to Shukla in the last few months.

ACB also has voice call records of these officers where they are allegedly talking to others regarding commission money.ACB sources said that after questioning their voice samples will be taken for examination.The ACB had earlier said that the corporation allowed rice millers to supply poor quality PDS rice to the government and received massive commission for them. This commission was then distributed through the entire hierarchy of the government functionaries.While the ACB had swiftly named and arrested junior employees, senior officers remained elusive, prompting the Congress to accuse.

First Published on: April 8, 20158:54 pm

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/pds-rice-scam-ias-officers-summoned-bychhattisgarh-acb/

Uproar in council over Rs 1,400cr rice ‘scam’ TNN | Apr 8, 2015, 11.03 PM IST

Patna: BJP members created din in the legislative council over Rs 1,400-crore alleged rice millers' scam in the state. The verbal duel between the ruling JD(U) and BJP members during question hour forced the Chairman to adjourn the House till lunch break.Replying to a question of Rajnish Kumar (BJP), food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak said Rs 1,418.60 crore was due to 2058 rice millers of the state. The government has lodged a certificate cases against 1,529 millers.

Only 293 millers have paid the entire amount, the minister said.Rajak also said the millers breached the agreement reached between the state food corporation (SFC) and millers' association.As a result, they have sold the rice in open market at higher rates. The SFC has already lodged FIR against 543 millers for siphoning off the amount, Rajak said. The minister also said a high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of chief secretary recently and the mode of recovery of amount from the millers was discussed. The SFC has been incurring huge financial loss along with non-payment of interest amount.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine The minister also said the chief secretary has decided the case to get registered with the economic offences wing against millers who owe over Rs 5 crore to the government. It was also decided to review this matter on monthly basis at the secretary of food and consumer protection level and the chief secretary would monitor it.Rajak also clarified that it would be wrong to say that millers have been framed in false cases.Intervening during the reply, leader of opposition in the council Sushil Kumar Modi said the government should introduce one-time settlement for millers. Modi also alleged the SFC officials were equally responsible for the mess.

The state government has issued notices to all the SFC district managers to stop payment against paddy procured with effect from April 1 unless the Centre releases the remaining funds, he alleged .Referring to his talk with Union minister of food, consumer affairs and public distribution Ram Vilas Paswan, Modi said the remaining Rs 600 crore would also be transferred to the state government.The chairman had to adjourn the House till lunch break. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Uproar-in-council-over-1400-cr-rice-scam/articleshow/46855424.cms

USA Rice Briefs Press on Trade Distorting Practices Brief The Press

WASHINGTON, DC -- According to a new study, several key advanced developing countries have ramped up subsidies to their producers of rice, corn, and wheat, dramatically changing the global trading environment as a result.Subsidies in Brazil, China, India, Thailand, and Turkey exceed each country's commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and must be addressed as part of a renewed push to complete the Doha Round of trade negotiations, said representatives of the USA Rice Federation and U.S.

Wheat Associates at a media briefing here today."Our joint study showed that these five advanced developing countries have steadily increased subsidies to their producers to the point of being out of compliance with their WTO obligations," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine who led off today's briefing. "While we support the WTO and global trade agreements because they work for our members, WTO negotiators must address the trade distortions in today's trading environment if the long-running Doha Round of negotiations is to conclude successfully.

Several of these countries are also very likely using export subsidies to dispose of surplus production.

"The group delivered this same message earlier this year to more than 50 representatives from WTO member countries at meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, including representatives from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia's missions to the WTO, the Director of the WTO's Agriculture Division, and Ambassador Michael Punke, head of the U.S. Mission."Our message is clear - we support the WTO, but the environment has changed and negotiators must deal with the situation in advanced developing countries. It's hard to talk about a new trade agreement when countries are ignoring their existing obligations," said Cummings. "The United States is meeting all international commitments, while many of our trading partners are going in the opposite direction. It's neither fair nor sustainable."

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

CCC Announces Prevailing World Market Prices WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan-gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2014 crop, which became effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Rough rice prices decreased $0.09 per cwt for both long grain and medium/short grain.

World Price Milled Value ($/cwt)

Rough ($/cwt)

Rough ($/cwt)

Long-Grain

15.44

Medium-/ShortGrain

15.04

10.13

0.00

Brokens

9.31

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10.00

MLG/LDP Rate

0.00

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This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates: U.S. Milling Yields Whole/Broken (lbs/cwt)

Loan Rate ($/cwt)

Long-Grain

57.21/12.55

6.64

Medium-/Short-Grain

61.89/8.83

6.51

The next program announcement is scheduled for April 15.

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for April 8 Month

Price

Net Change

May 2015

$10.575

- $0.105

July 2015

$10.830

- $0.105

September 2015

$11.060

- $0.080

November 2015

$11.275

- $0.065

January 2016

$11.495

- $0.060

March 2016

$11.545

- $0.060

May 2016

$11.545

- $0.060

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IMARC Group Launches a New Prefeasibility Report on a Rice Bran Oil Processing Plant "Rice Bran Oil Processing Plant Project Report"A new prefeasibility report published by IMARC Group provides a robust analysis on the global rice bran oil market. The study that has been undertaken using desk-based as well as qualitative primary research provides an analysis on the various aspects required to set an a rice bran oil processing plant. This includes market trends, manufacturers, raw materials, production processes, labour, utilities, costs, revenues, margins, etc.IMARC's latest study "Rice Bran Oil Processing Plant Project Report: Industry Trends, Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Cost and Revenue" provides a techno-commercial roadmap for setting up a rice bran oil processing plant.

The study, which has been done by one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, covers all the requisite aspects of the rice bran oil industry. This ranges from macro overview of the market to micro details of the industry performance, processing and manufacturing requirements, project cost, project funding, project economics, expected returns on investment, profit margins, etc. This report is a must-read for entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who are planning to foray into the rice bran oil industry in any manner.

Key Questions Answered in This Report? * What are the key success and risk factors in the rice bran oil industry? * How has the rice bran oil market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? * What is the structure of the rice bran oil industry and who are the key players? * What are the various unit operations involved in a rice bran oil plant? * What is the total size of land required for setting up a rice bran oil plant? * What are the machinery requirements for setting up a rice bran oil plant? * What are the raw material requirements for setting up a rice bran oil plant? * What are the utility requirements for setting up a rice bran oil plant? * What are the manpower requirements for setting up a rice bran oil plant? * What are the infrastructure costs for setting up a rice bran oil plant? * What are the capital costs for setting up a rice bran oil plant? * What are the operating costs for setting up a rice bran oil plant? * What should be the pricing mechanism of rice bran oil? * What will be the income and expenditures for a rice bran oil plant? * What is the time required to break-even?

Table of Contents 1 Research Methodology 2 Executive Summary 3 Introduction 4 Rice Bran Oil Industry Analysis 4.1 Rice Bran Oil Industry: Key Success and Risk Factors 4.1.1 Key Success Factors 4.1.2 Risk Factors

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 5 Rice Bran Oil Industry: Overall Market Performance 5.1 Global Rice Industry 5.2 Global Edible Oil Industry 5.3 Global Rice Bran Oil Industry 5.4 Major Players 6 Processing and Manufacturing of Rice Bran oil 6.1 Rice Bran Oil Processing Plant: Process Flow 6.2 Rice Bran Oil Processing Plant: Various Types of Unit Operations Involved 7 Project Details, Requirements and Costs Involved 7.1 Land, Location and Site Development 7.2 Layout and Buildings 7.3 Plant and Machinery 7.4 Raw Materials 7.5 Utilities 7.6 Manpower 7.7 Other Capital Investments 8 Rice Bran Oil Processing Plant: Loans and Financial Assistance 9 Rice Bran Oil Processing Plant: Project Economics 9.1 Capital Cost of the Project 9.2 Techno-Economic Parameters 9.3 Product Pricing 9.4 Income Projections 9.5 Expenditure Projections 9.6 Financial Analysis List of Figures Figure 5 1: Global - Rice Production (in Million Tons), 2007 - 2014 Figure 5 2: Global - Rice Production by Country (%) http://www.bloomberg.com/research/markets/news/article.asp?docKey=600-201504080609M2______EUPR_____b02700000299c980_36001&utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+April+8%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

AgCenter: Farm products enjoy record year in 2014 Ken Stickney, kstickney@gannett.com6:19 p.m. CDT April 7, 2015 (Photo:

Jim Layne)

CONNECT TWEETLINKEDINCOMM ENTEMAILMORE Timber and soybeans led a record year for Louisiana's agricultural economy in 2014, and the best news may lie ahead.The LSU AgCenter's annual summary, released this week, shows the net value for all sectors of farming was up 7.6 percent, or $900 million, to $12.7 billion in 2014. That's more than double the $5.9 billion value recorded in 2007. "Overall, the 2014 year in agricultural was recordsetting in terms of total value across all sectors," AgCenter economist John Westra said. "Most producers of most commodities raised, harvested and sold in Louisiana had increased revenues and benefited from the increase in total value from $11.8 billion in 2013 to $12.7 billion in 2014.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine "Louisiana forestry had a value of $3.86 billion in 2014, up 34 percent or $981 million from 2013. Westra said forest products represented "the biggest gain in absolute value" in 2014."Several million homes need to be built," said Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain. "Due to the downturn in 2008 and 2009, a lot of young people had not built homes.

There's been a resurgence. There is a pent-up demand for single-family homes.'That meant Louisiana lumber was in demand, as was Louisiana timber for use in paper products and box products. As the world economy improves, Strain said, Louisiana will see increased demand for timber, which Strain said would grow in 2016 and 2017.Soybeans also soared in value in 2014 to $1.16 billion, up 28 percent over 2013. Westra cited strong prices and record yields.Two Acadiana commodities, rice and sugar, languished in value, year over year, although Strain sees improvement ahead. Rice value dropped by $2.7 million to $656 million, although acreage planted rose from 411,000 to 449,000.

Yields were up to an average of 7,500 pounds were acre, but prices were down, the AgCenter reported. Nonetheless, Strain said, research will enable rice growers to substantially increase pounds per acre past 9,000 pounds.But Strain said rice is poised for success. It is the world's No. 1 starch product, and improved means of transporting the product — eventually, that means more railcars to carry rice to Mexico and Canada — will create a new demand for rice. Cuba gets most of its rice from Vietnam, he said; that should change as trade barriers relax between the U.S. and Cuba.Sugarcane value fell 3 percent to $747 million in 2014. Acreage was down about 5 percent to 412,000. Strain said sugarcane scored one triumph in 2014 by proving that Mexico was dumping sugar in the U.S., which may yet improve sugar prices.Rice and sugarcane were the exceptions, not the rule in 2014.

Cattle and calf was up by 35 percent, cotton was up, sweet potatoes were up.Strain says things look brighter still. As the world economy pulls out of the doldrums, as economies improve in China and India, American farm products will be in still greater demand."We see tremendous activity in agriculture. The value was $5.9 billion in 2007, $12.7 billion in 2014. We expect in the next few years that it will increase to $25 billion," Strain said.He said the growth will come from greater production and efficiency by farmers and public and private advances in agricultural research."It was a remarkable year," Strain said.

Pakistan willing to ink CEPA with Sri Lanka April 09, 2015 MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

Pakistan has expressed its intention to ink first Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Sri Lanka, keeping in view that the latter was the first country with which FTA was signed. Islamabad conveyed its intention during the recent visit of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. Well-informed sources in Commerce Ministry told Business Recorder that Pakistan has made the same offer to Sri Lanka as it made to Turkey. "Our offer was that Pakistan and Sri Lanka should move forward from FTA to CEPA aimed at enhancing trade and economic

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine relations", sources revealed. For instance, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was signed ten years ago but Sri Lanka still imposes tariff quota on Pakistani rice.

Pakistan maintains that quota on rice should be removed if Sri Lanka is implementing the FTA according to its spirit. In the CEPA, both countries will eliminate quotas bilaterally and deliberations will be held on customs co-operation, investment and widening and deepening of tariff cuts. The two countries held the first round of talks on CEPA in October 2014 in Colombo and next round will be held in September 2015 in Islamabad. Joint Working Groups (JWGs) have already formulated proposals on different sectors and would finalise their recommendations. Sri Lankan President Sirisena and Prime Minister Sharif have agreed to expedite the process to reach early agreement on CEPA. The import of auto parts from Sri Lanka and rice exports from Pakistan are the two key issues.

Pakistan unilaterally imposed restriction on import of auto parts from Sri Lanka after Pakistani industry revealed that Indian parts are reaching Pakistan through Sri Lanka. According to sources, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir raised the issue during the Sri Lankan President's visit noting that South Asians habitually haggle which amused the Sri Lanka President.

Commerce Minister maintained that the two countries should not haggle.According to data Pakistan's exports to Sri Lanka increased by nearly 160 per cent compared to pre-FTA exports whereas Sri Lankan exports increased by 89 percent. However, the volume is still too low as present bilateral trade is only $350 million. Pakistan underscored the need for business-tobusiness interaction which will be structured at the government level and businesspeople of the two countries should participate in exhibitions. Pakistan complained that Sri Lanka used to grant visas to Pakistani businessmen on arrival, a practice Sri Lanka abandoned which is creating hurdles for Pakistani exporters. http://www.brecorder.com/top-stories/0/1170594/

Iran: open for business?

April 09, 2015 BR Research These are interesting times. Iran may soon be truly open for business again. Wall Street was buzzing all day on Monday, the first day after the Easter holiday, thanks to the optimism the recent negotiations have generated. While the financial world seems excited in anticipation of taking a piece of the Iranian market, caution should prevail because of lingering questions. Iran has agreed to rollback its nuclear program and global powers will lift the punishing economic and financial sanctions – that’s the deal. But the agreement, which has no doubt historic significance, between Iran and major powers, still has a long way to go. The particulars of a final framework still need to be ironed out.

There’re still a few cooks that can spoil the broth. But the international mood towards Iran seems to have undergone a favourable shift lately since the recent election of President Hassan Rouhani. European governments seem under great pressure from their business communities to lift the sanctions and start trading with Iran soon. A German business community insider

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine reportedly mentioned that German companies had done some very heavy lobbying in clinching the agreement with Iran. It is also worth nothing that in the last few months, courts in Europe have started making cracks in the foundations of the whole sanction regime by labeling it unlawful. If the US ends up deciding against the wishes of President Obama to lift the sanctions, as the Republican majority in the Senate and Congress are gearing up to do, they likely won’t have Europe tagging along.

European companies have traditionally been the dominant exporters and investors in the Iranian economy. These companies are anticipating huge profits from Iran’s re-building of the currently deteriorating infrastructure. They’re also interested to invest in the oil and gas sector, automobile industry, and FMCG sector, news reports suggest. There is, reportedly, about 30 percent slack in the Iranian economy that can be picked up by FDI inflows. With current oil prices, it seems important for investors to look beyond hydrocarbons. Iran has a population of 80 million, with around 69 percent in the age group of 15 to 64. As per the Wall Street Journal, this subgroup had spent $22 billion on clothes and $77 billion on food in 2012 when sanctions were in place. This provides great opportunities for diversification in investments.

Over at home, Pakistan can also benefit from the gradual opening up a neighbouring economy.

Before the Iranian sanctions, Pakistan was the biggest exporter of rice to Iran. In 2010 Iran imported 40 percent of its Basmati rice from Pakistan. Overall, exports from Pakistan were only 0.74 percent of Iran’s total imports in 2010. Nevertheless, businesses should be cautious.

Sanctions are not the only issue that Iran’s economy is facing. The Iranian government also needs to conduct major economic and banking sector reforms in the country to support these investments. It seems that the best strategy for Pakistan and other nations is to take a step back to do research, find the right partners, and only then test the waters.

http://www.brecorder.com/br-research/44:miscellaneous/5337:iran-open-for-business/

Pakistan, Belarus to enhance economic co-operation April 09, 2015 RECORDER REPORT Pakistan and Belarus have great opportunities to enhance their economic co-operation through B2B meetings, organising exhibitions and sending delegations of experts under the platform of FPCCI. This was stated by Mian Muhammad Adrees, President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in a meeting with Denis Kozlov Foreign Economic Relations Expert and. Konstantin Rzheussky, Counsellor embassy of the Republic of Belarus who visited Federation house. The meeting was also attended by senior Vice President Abdul Rahim Janoo and Vice President Shahnawaz Ishtiaq. While sharing his views, the FPCCI President Mian Muhammad Adrees said that the FPCCI is the apex trade body that works for increasing trade and commercial activities in the country. It has 60 Chambers and 110 registered trade association bodies.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine He emphasised that both countries should understand their market demands and potentials and take efforts to reduce the communication gap. He said Pakistan has a strong market of textile, cotton and rice. Pakistan is a leading agriculture country and Belarus has huge market of agriculture related equipment as during recent years, thousands of tractors were sold to Pakistan from Belarus. He further added the businessmen of both the countries should get involved with each other by visiting through delegations and organising joint ventures. Konstantin Rzheussky, Counsellor of the Republic of Belarus said that his government gives great importance to Pakistan and is keen to increase trade and establishing of Joint Business Council between both the countries.

He said the President of Belarus will soon visit to Pakistan. However, Denis Kozlov Foreign Economic Relations Expert maintained various companies showed their interest in investing in Pakistan. He said his government always encourages organising exhibitions and sending business representatives to the various countries. He also informed that his country has strong education programmes network to strengthen the institutions. The President FPCCI said the start of regular travelling of businessmen is very important for both countries as it would improve relationship.

He also emphasised to jointly working in the field of technical education and making soft visa policy, encouraging banking sector and starting direct flights operations, promoting tourism and signing MoU.-PR

Second rice crop seen dropping to 15-year low 8 Apr 2015 at 16:02 WRITER: BLOOMBERG NEWS Farmers harvest a rice field in Suphan Buri’s Nong Yasai district, one of several areas hit hard by drought. The Royal Irrigation Department had warned villagers in Suphan Buri and nearby provinces to grow only one rice crop this year because of an expected water shortage. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton)

Production from the second rice crop will drop 43% to the lowest level in 15 years on lack of rainfall, cutting the annual harvest in the world's biggest exporter, according to the Office of Agricultural Economics.Farmers are set to gather 5.5 million tonnes of rough rice from the harvest now compared with 6.7 million tonnes seen in December and 9.7 million tonnes a year earlier, the government forecaster said. That will lower output in the 12 months through September to 32.6 million tonnes, the smallest since 2009-2010, data compiled by Bloomberg show.The military junta cut water for the minor crop to preserve supplies for the main harvest which is planted from May. Water levels in reservoirs has fallen to the lowest in 15 years, the government says.

Large cracks line a rice field in Suphan Buri’s Nong Yasai district, one of several areas hit hard by drought. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton) Thailand will ship more this year than any country ever as the government sells record reserves accumulated by the previous administration, US government data show. That's pushed Asian benchmark prices to the lowest in nine months.The government late last year sought

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine "cooperation" from farmers in refraining from growing the second crop because of drought.

Failure to comply can result in no compensation for crop damage or farm subsidies, including supplies of irrigated water.

"Farmers planted less after the government shut sluices because deficient rainfall cut water in major dams, especially in the Chao Phraya basin," said Kanit Likhitvidhayavuth, deputy secretary-general at the office, referring to the river that flows through the main growing areas.

"Rice prices are unattractive, prompting growers to switch to other crops," he said in an interview on April 7.Rates of Thai 5% broken white rice, an Asian benchmark, fell to US$401 a tonne on March 25, the lowest level since June.

Futures traded on the Chicago Board of Trade have slumped 31% in the past year to $10.70 per 100 pounds.Growers worldwide will harvest 475 million tonnes of rice on a milled basis in 20142015, near the record 477 million tonnes a year earlier, according to US Department of Agriculture data. Thai shipments will rise 0.3% to an all-time high of 11 million tonnes, the data show.Farmers in Thailand will probably harvest 33 million tonnes in the 12 months from October, Mr Kanit said.Get full Bangkok Post printed newspaper experience on your digital devices with Bangkok Post e-newspaper. Try it out, it's totally free for 7 days.

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