Asia Rice-Thailand rice prices firm on stronger baht but dip in Vietnam and India.

Rice prices firmed in Thailand on a stronger baht while prices dipped in Vietnam and India. Thailand sold 3.6 million tonnes of rice abroad between the start of the year and March21 which is up 2.7% from the same period last year. In India, 5% broken parboiled rice fell due to amid less demand. In Vietnam, 5% broken rice fell as supply increased during the main harvest season. Global demand is not so strong as Thailand is still selling their inventor. Vietnam rice shipments fell 26.5% last year to 4.8 million tonnes, while exports of the grain in the first two months of 2017 decreased 23.5% year on year to 738,000 tonnes.

Bharatiya Kisan Union calls for imposing duty on imported wheat to safeguard interests of farmers.

Bharatiya Kisan Union has urged the Union govt to impose at least 25% custom duty on the import of wheat to safeguard the interests of Punjab farmers. The import of wheat was subject to 10% custom duty which was later withdrawn by the govt. Wheat crop in Punjab was about to arrive in mandis in the next few days and the price of imported wheat needs to be made uneconomical so that the entire wheat crop in Punjab could be procured by the govt agencies at MSP.

NCDEX wheat ends up as traders fear import duty recovery.

Wheat futures contracts ended higher on the NCDEX as traders anticipate prices to rise if the govt recovers import duty on the food grain. The most active April wheat contract on the NCDEX up 0.6% from previous close. Govt has started buying wheat from farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat at a MSP. In Madhya Pradesh benchmark Indore market, wheat prices fell due to a rise in supplies. About 25,000 bags (1bag=100kg) of wheat arrived in the market up from 20,000 bags.

NCDEX coriander hits 6 week high as output may fall.

Futures contracts of coriander on the NCDEX extended gains and hit a 6-week high because of a likely decline in output in 2016-17 (Oct-Sep). The most active April contract on the NCDEX traded up 0.5%. Coriander output may be hit due to the late onset of winter followed by lower than normal temperatures in Rajasthan in mid-January and on expectation of above-normal temperatures later this month. Arrivals in Rajasthan were pegged at 45,000 bags (1bag=40kg) up 13,000 bags.

Farmers to dump rice for corn when quantitative restriction ends in Manila(Philippine).

Rice output could decline to below 18 million metric tonnes after the quantitative restriction on rice is scrapped on June 30. Rice output in MY 2017-2018 could settle at 17.93 MMT, lower than the 18.52 MMT projected for the current marketing year 2016-17 which would end on July 31. The projected decline in unmilled rice output, the imports could double to 2 MMT during MY 2017-18. Rice farmers are expected to shift to planting corn that local corn output could reach 8.3 MMT in 2017-18 which is 2% higher than the 8.1 MMT estimated output in 2016-17. In 2017/18, corn production will likely increase due to firm feed demand by the expanding domestic livestock and poultry industries. and also, this increase in corn production in the country imports could decline to 500,000 metric tonnes in 2017-18 from 600,000 metric tonnes in 2016-17.

Govt to sell 8 million tonnes from rice stocks this year in Thailand.

Govt plans to sell 8 million tonnes of white rice inventory within this year. The inventory is part of rice stocks of 18 million tonnes accumulated from the rice subsidy scheme implemented by previous govt. 8 million tonnes comprise three grades of rice; 3 million tonnes food grade, 3.66 million tonnes industrial-use grade and 1 million tonnes of rotten rice which can be used only for alcohol production. Govt put up 1.3 million tonnes of food-grade rice for auction last month and another 1.5 million tonnes will be put up for auction in May.

Barley prices up in Jaipur on rise in demand.

Prices of barley were up in Jaipur because of rise in demand from the malt industry, stockists and feed sector. Prices also rise due to lower supply. Arrivals of the new crop were pegged at 4,000 bags (1bag=85kg) compared with 6,000 bags. On the NCDEX, the most-active April contract of barley traded up 1%.

NCDEX wheat up on expectations of import duty recovery.

Futures contracts of wheat rise 1% on the NCDEX as traders expect the govt to soon impose import duty on wheat. Agriculture ministry is planning to impose import duty on wheat and the proposal is in final stage. Around 20,000 bags (1bag=100kg) of the grain arrived in Indore down from 5,000 bags.

Flour millers seek tax exemption on wheat products under Goods and Services Tax regime.

The Roller Flour Mills Federation of India has asked the govt to exempt wheat products from tax under the goods and services tax regime. Processing of wheat into flour and other products is an inevitable part of its consumption, and taxation of processed wheat based food products will put a burden on the basic staple of most people of the country. Govt has already exempted food grains such as wheat and rice from taxes under the GST regime. India produces an average of 90 MT wheat every year and consumption is pegged at 81-82 MT and of this flour millers process 20-30 MT. Roller Flour Mills Federation represents about 1,800 flour mills across the country which process wheat and produce products like maida, sooji, dalia etc.

Three-year wheat holiday in 2 Bengal districts to check wheat blast.

Centre has declared a three-year wheat holiday in Nadia and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal that reported outbreak of wheat blast this year to reduce the spread of the disease. Farmers asked to state govt to prepare a list of crops that can be planted instead of wheat for atleast three years. Govt has burnt the affected crop over 580 ha in Murshidabad and over 505 ha in Nadia so far. To ensure that the air borne disease is contained, Central govt has asked the West Bengal govt to buy the entire wheat that is harvested in the affected districts and get it custom milled into flour.