Wider canal = More rice?

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA -- The USA Rice Federation's Sarah Moran, director of international promotion, attended the seventh annual Grain & Rice Americas convention here on August 21-22.  More than fifteen countries were represented at the convention sponsored by The Rice Trader. Discussion topics included the Panama Canal expansion, rice and risk decisions, managing commodity futures, El Niño in 2014, and the evolution of China's grain market. 

Several speakers mentioned Central America as a growth market for rice but also highlighted the increased threat of less expensive rice of other origins entering the market. Moran said discussions with individual representatives from the Central American market, including millers and exporters, continue to revolve around the quality of U.S.-grown rice.

"The quality issue is not going away," said Moran. "Our producers are aware of it and have high hopes that this year's higher quality crop will have a positive impact on the current market environment."

Contact:  Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

Iraq's Minister of Trade has re-advertised an international tender to purchase a minimum 30,000 milled tons of rice from Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, Uruguay, Vietnam, and the United States. Tenders will be open until September 8, 2014; offers must be valid until September 12, 2014.

This particular tender is being opened a third time as the Iraqi Grain Board (IGB) has rejected two previous offers. The tender was initially issued on June 9 and reissued on July 23, for purchasing rice from the same origins. The IGB rejected all previous offers due to high prices.

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