March 19, 2008
MANILA - The Philippine government plans to mainly import rice from Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan, according to the National Food Authority (NFA).
335,500 tonnes of rice valued 237.5 million dollars will be imported to offset an expected shortfall in domestic production.
The NFA is the agency tasked with importing rice.
The higher price of rice can be seen in Bangkok, one of the world’s biggest rice exporters.
The rice was traded at more than 500 dollars a ton in February, a rise of more than 100 dollars from a month earlier and up from just 325 dollars a year.
Thailand’s major rice exporters include Capital Rice Co Ltd, Soon Hua Seng Rice Co Ltd, Uthai Produce Co Ltd, Thai Hua (1968) Co Ltd and President Agri Trading Co Ltd.
