The art of the deal

RICE COUNTRY, USA -- The USA Rice Federation facilitated the visit of four representatives from one of the largest private rice importing companies in China to the offices of U.S. rice exporters in Arkansas, Louisiana, and California this week and last.  The company, Dragon Ocean Hing Group, was established in 2001and has an annual import volume of over 200,000 metric tons and a turnover of more than $163 million U.S dollars.

"This trip was very successful," said Mr. William Li, the delegation leader.  "There were more exporters interested in meeting with us than time allowed."

With their subsidiaries Shenzhen Hong Tai Xiang Import & Export, Gold Profit Industries, and Shenzhen Yintuo, the company has built a complete rice supply chain from origin procurement to terminal sales, covering customs clearance, domestic logistics, freight forwarding, import and export agency, warehouse, rice factory, and both retail and wholesale rice distribution.

One hundred sixty thousand tons of the two hundred thousand Dragon Ocean Hing imports each year is long grain sourced from Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan.  The remaining 40,000 tons of imports is short and medium grain rice used in alcohol and rice noodles.  The company sells products in over eighty cities, 1,200 supermarkets, 1,500 gas stations, and major on-line stores.

"We expected this trip to help prepare us to reach import contract agreements with American rice suppliers as soon as China allows rice imports from America," said Mr. Li.   "We believe American rice will enhance our product line and we wish to be the first company to import American rice into China."

Tomorrow: Part Two: A Sit Down Interview with the Chinese Rice Delegation

Contact:  Bill Farmer (832) 302-6710

ARLINGTON, VA -- Applications for the USA Rice Federation's National Rice Month Scholarship Program, sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, are due Monday, October 13.  To enter, high school students from the Class of 2015 must detail a U.S.-grown rice promotional program conducted in September.

Eligible students who live in rice-producing counties of Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri or Texas will be awarded three scholarships totaling $8,500.  The national grand-prize winner will be presented a $4,000 scholarship award in December at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock, AR.  Trip expenses for the national grand-prize winner and one chaperone are included.

Entries will be judged on creativity and impact in promoting U.S.-grown rice, National Rice Month and the importance of rice in their state.

Applications and further details are available on www.usarice.com.

Contact: Amy Doane (703) 236-1454

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