World rice prices tripled in just six months during 2007-08. While media attention focused on the events in international markets, the effects of the crisis were mostly felt in poor households in the developing world. Given the importance of rice as a key staple of the poor, monitoring the rice market is paramount. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Rice Market Summary
Rice Market Monitor
January 2011
Using information from:
FAO Food Outlook
November 2010

2. Rome, February 2011 2Rice Market Summary
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Rice prices remain relatively subdued
 Compared to other cereals,
the rice market stood out as
rather quiet in 2010
 Despite recent increases,
rice prices remain below
record highs
 Relatively abundant
supplies are expected to
further moderate the
upward pressure in 2011

3. Rome, February 2011 3Rice Market Summary
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Outlook for global rice production positive
 The outlook for global rice
production in 2010/11 is
positive
 At 700 million tonnes, the
current estimate puts global
production at 2.4% above
2009/10 levels
 The increase is expected to
stem from a rebound in
world area planted to rice

4. Rome, February 2011 4Rice Market Summary
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Higher rice trade in 2010...
 At 31.5 million tonnes, trade
is expected to be 6% higher
than in 2009
 Larger imports by Asian
countries are a main driver
 The United States and Viet
Nam are foreseen to account
for much of the anticipated
expansion of world exports

5. Rome, February 2011 5Rice Market Summary
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
...remaining relatively steady in 2011
 Trade volumes in 2011 are
forecast to be slightly below
the 2010 levels
 Improved supplies are
anticipated to reduce imports
in Asia and Latin America
 On the export side, Thailand
is foreseen to play a pivotal
role in 2011, compensating
for reduced deliveries by
Pakistan and Viet Nam

6. Rome, February 2011 6Rice Market Summary
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Good crops to boost rice stocks in 2011
 Global production in 2010 is
anticipated to surpass
consumption by more than 6
million tonnes
 This could result in a 5%
build-up of world stocks in
2011, reaching the highest
level since 2002
 The refurbishing of rice
inventories is expected to lift
the global stock-to-use ratio
to almost 30% in 2011

7. Rome, February 2011 7Rice Market Summary
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Stocks held by major exporters rise slightly
 Inventories held by the five
major exporters of rice*
is
expected to increase slightly
in 2011
 Similarly, the relation of their
inventories to disappearance
(utilization plus exports) is
expected to move up
 This could indicate that the
market may ease in the
course of 2011
* China, India, Pakistan, Thailand, USA, Viet Nam

8. Rome, February 2011 8Rice Market Summary
Economic and Social Development Department
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
More information
 The 2007-08 Rice Price Crisis: How policies drove up
prices... and how they can help stabilise the market;
FAO Policy Brief No 13
 Rice Market Monitor, January 2011
 FAO Food Outlook, November 2010
 Rice Market Summary, excerpts taken from the FAO
Food Outlook, November 2010