ID :
180560
Sat, 05/07/2011 - 13:28
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http://m.oananews.org//node/180560
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Thailand's rice trade expected to slowdown pending new election
BANGKOK, May 7 (TNA) - The Thai Rice Exporters Association has foreseen a slowdown in international trade of Thai rice over the next few months, as local rice exporters and international buyers should wait to see the rice policy of the new Thai government, which will take office after the country's new general election in mid 2011.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, Honorary President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said that Thailand's rice trade has not been very active after local political parties have presented different rice policies for their electoral campaigns.
Chookiat noted that the recent killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by the US force has also influenced buyers' decisions, as Pakistan is a world major rice exporter to the Middle East and it may decide to slow down its exports, or the Middle East may increase imports of rice from other countries to strengthen food security.
According to the Thai Rice Exporters Association, the price of second-grade 100-per-cent Thai white rice has declined slightly from 508 US dollars a ton last week to 506 US dollars or 15,300 baht a ton this week; while the price of 5-per-cent Thai white rice has dropped from 491 US dollars to 489 US dollars a ton.
Meanwhile, Thai Permanent Secretary for Commerce Yanyong Puangraj said that he, on the other hand, believes the prices of Thai rice should be on the rise, as Vietnam, Thailand's major rice exporter rival, has slowed down its rice shipments overseas over the next couple of months. Yanyong pointed out that the prices of Thai paddy on the domestic market have steadily increased, from 7,900 baht per ton last month to 8,200-8,300 baht per ton now.
Thai Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai also said that her ministry was considering selling more Thai rice overseas under government-to-government (G-to-G) contracts. (TNA)
Chookiat Ophaswongse, Honorary President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said that Thailand's rice trade has not been very active after local political parties have presented different rice policies for their electoral campaigns.
Chookiat noted that the recent killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by the US force has also influenced buyers' decisions, as Pakistan is a world major rice exporter to the Middle East and it may decide to slow down its exports, or the Middle East may increase imports of rice from other countries to strengthen food security.
According to the Thai Rice Exporters Association, the price of second-grade 100-per-cent Thai white rice has declined slightly from 508 US dollars a ton last week to 506 US dollars or 15,300 baht a ton this week; while the price of 5-per-cent Thai white rice has dropped from 491 US dollars to 489 US dollars a ton.
Meanwhile, Thai Permanent Secretary for Commerce Yanyong Puangraj said that he, on the other hand, believes the prices of Thai rice should be on the rise, as Vietnam, Thailand's major rice exporter rival, has slowed down its rice shipments overseas over the next couple of months. Yanyong pointed out that the prices of Thai paddy on the domestic market have steadily increased, from 7,900 baht per ton last month to 8,200-8,300 baht per ton now.
Thai Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai also said that her ministry was considering selling more Thai rice overseas under government-to-government (G-to-G) contracts. (TNA)
