World Rice Availability Improves

WASHINGTON - Feb 8/08 - SNS -- Global 2007-08 rice production, consumption, and trade are increased slightly from last month while ending stocks are lowered, according to the latest outlook from the USDA's World Agricultural Outlook Board.

The slight increase in global production to 420.63 million metric tons (MT) is due to a number of small upward adjustments including EU-27 and Panama, which are partially offset by slight reductions for Cuba and Egypt.

World exports are increased slightly for the United States, Burma, and India; and reduced for Egypt. Global ending stocks are lowered slightly owing to a number of small decreases for the United States, Australia, Burma, China, India, and Ghana. World rice ending stocks for 2007-08 are projected at 72.1 million MT, down about 0.5 million MT from last month, down 3.1 million MT from 2006-07, and the lowest stocks since 1983-84.

In the United States,m the USDA made no changes on the supply side of the U.S. 2007-08 rice supply and use balance. However, all rice exports for 2007-08 are raised 2 million cwt to 111 million cwt. Rough and combined milled-and-brown exports (on a rough- equivalent basis) are each raised 1 million cwt from a month ago. Long-grain and combined medium- and short-grain exports are each raised 1 million cwt to 86 million and 25 million cwt, respectively.

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