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USA Rice Federation is the global advocate of all segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to promote and protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses.
Friday, September 12, 2014

Market Check: Japan - Facebook Growth and New Retail Distribution    

Japanese Facebook page
Like Curry Like!

TOKYO, JAPAN - While trade negotiations to improve U.S. rice access to Japan drag on, the USA Rice Federation continues to pave the way for the home-grown grain.

 

USA Rice's Japanese Facebook page, translated as "Curry LIKE!" has just passed a fan milestone. The page now has more than 14,000 fans and is the second largest curry-based Facebook site in Japan.

 

"Curries are very popular here, providing U.S.-grown rice with a natural entr�e into the market," said Bill Farmer, USA Rice's director of Asia programs. "We update the Facebook page with at least ten recipes and five news items each month to ensure fresh content, giving consumers a reason to visit often."

 

Farmer says they are also at the tail end of a four-week promotion offering Facebook fans a free sample of U.S. medium grain and a U.S. rice curry recipe book. He added that the increased Facebook fan base has resulted in increased traffic to the USA Rice Japan website that contains valuable nutritional information, additional recipes, and more.  

 

Speaking of U.S. medium grain, a new retail bag product has recently been launched here   

New rice packaing in Japan
Eat your vegetables...er, rice!

by Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd., an international Japanese food company.   

 

Nishimoto is taking a unique approach to marketing the product. Some rice is packaged and sold in the traditional rice section, but they are also packaging some differently and displaying the product in fresh vegetable sections with a message "rice to enjoy like a vegetable".  

 

This twist on rice marketing follows several successful USA Rice promotional activities in Japan designed to introduce Japanese consumers to new and creative uses for U.S.-grown rice, such as cold rice salads. (see USA Rice Daily stories April 9, April 21, and August 14, 2014.) 

 

"I think the availability of the one pound retail bags will help stimulate demand for U.S. medium grain rice here," Farmer said. "We'll keep publicizing new recipes and uses and help this market grow however we can."

 

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458 

Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported    

WASHINGTON, DC -- Net sales of 32,000 MT for 2014/2015were down 43 percent from the previous week and 55 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for Mexico (7,800 MT), Ghana (7,000 MT), Honduras (5,300 MT, including 2,000 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 200 MT), Costa Rica (4,000 MT), and Turkey (3,000 MT) according to today's Export Sales Highlights report.. Decreases were reported for unknown destinations (2,000 MT). Net sales reductions of 3,300 MT for 2015/2016 resulted as increases for Mexico (200 MT), were more than offset by decreases for Honduras (3,500 MT).

Exports of 19,700 MT were down 53 percent from the previous week and from the prior 4-week average. The primary destinations were to Haiti (7,100 MT), Honduras (4,300 MT), Mexico (2,800 MT), Jordan (1,800 MT), and Canada (1,300 MT).

This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period August 29-September 4.

Japan Announces Results of 2nd Ordinary Import Tender in FY2014     

Country of Origin
Variety
Number of importers
Quantity (MT)
Participated bidders
Amount of bids (MT)
U.S.A
Non-glutinous milled rice
(Medium grain)

2

24,000

13

156,000
Thailand
Non-glutinous milled rice
(Long grain)

3

18,000

25

150,000
Grand total

5
42,000
38
306,000
Average price for successful bids

JPY 87,596/MT

JPY 94,604/MT
(tax excl.)

(tax excl.)


CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for September 12.


Month
Price
Net Change
September 2014$12.550
+ $0.225
November 2014$12.785
+ $0.265
January 2015$12.975
+ $0.255
March 2015$13.170
+ $0.255
May 2015$13.335
+ $0.255
July 2015$13.515
+ $0.255
September 2015$13.100
+ $0.140 
November 2015
$13.100
UNCH


In the News 

Around the Country

Cotton takes lead over Pryor in Ark. - The Hill

Democrats believe the race remains very competitive and argue their superior ground game operations will help boost Pryor by a few points if the race remains deadlocked heading into the homestretch.

 

Around the World

U.N.'S Food Price Index Drops to Four-Year Low - Agri-Marketing

However rice bucked the trend in grains, with its prices rising in August, reflecting increased import demand, lower-than-expected releases from stockpiles by Thailand, and unfavorable weather affecting some crops in Asia.

 

Price control, rice, export growth among urgent tasks for new minister - The Nation (Thailand)

Will Thailand continue to sell off rice stockpile, reducing prices, or hold off and lose crops?

   

Just for Fun for NRM

6 Healthy Dinner Recipes That Cost $6 - U.S. News & World Report

Making rice last all week!

USA Rice Daily Index of Articles, September 8-11
Next Generation of Rice Industry Leaders Learn the Ropes on Capitol Hill
Star Power at the USA Rice Twitter Chat
WASDE Report Released:  Production Forecast Down

Wednesday, September 10
House Passes Bill Rejecting EPA's Waters of the U.S. Proposed Rule
National Rice Month Promotional Item of the Week:  Reach for Rice Aprons

Tuesday, September 9
Garden State Shoppers Eat Up Rice Demo
Reminder:  Twitter Party Tomorrow @ 1 p.m. EST, #Foodiechats
Taiwan Tender Announcements for U.S.-Origin Rice

Monday, September 8
Leadership Alumni Chosen for International Travel, Next Stop:  China
Annual School Foodservice Contest Launches National Rice Month
Crop Progress:  2014 Crop 26 Percent Harvested
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Mission Statement
USA Rice Federation is the global advocate for all segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to promote and protect the interests of producers, millers, merchants and allied businesses.
About Us
Editor: Michael Klein,
(703) 236-1458,
[email protected]

Fax (703) 236-2301

2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 610
Arlington, VA 22201

This report is time-sensitive, based on information available at press time. Content is derived from facts and sources believed to be reliable. Reprinting and/or distribution may be done with permission of the USA Rice Federation

Copyright � 2014. Please direct comments or questions to the editor or contact name listed for each story.