Last week, US Rice Producers Association participated in USDA’s Agribusiness Trade Mission to Bogota, Colombia. Led by USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor, the three-day trade mission included market updates, tours of various types of markets and stores, and opportunities to connect with buyers from both Colombia and Venezuela. Mollie Buckler, Chief Operating Officer, and Iris Figueroa, Western Hemisphere Marketing Manager, represented USRPA on the trip.  During the plenary session on Tuesday, USDA staff cited rice as one of the products with the greatest potential for expanded market growth. Currently, paddy rice sits at #8 of top US products imported to Colombia. To wrap up the trip, Buckler and Figueroa had a productive meeting with staff members from Induarroz, Colombia’s rice millers’ association. Conversations centered around the future of U.S. rice exports to Colombia and ways USRPA and Induarroz can continue to work together.Last week, US Rice Producers Association participated in USDA’s Agribusiness Trade Mission to Bogota, Colombia. Led by USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor, the three-day trade mission included market updates, tours of various types of markets and stores, and opportunities to connect with buyers from both Colombia and Venezuela. Mollie Buckler, Chief Operating Officer, and Iris Figueroa, Western Hemisphere Marketing Manager, represented USRPA on the trip. During the plenary session on Tuesday, USDA staff cited rice as one of the products with the greatest potential for expanded market growth. Currently, paddy rice sits at #8 of top US products imported to Colombia. To wrap up the trip, Buckler and Figueroa had a productive meeting with staff members from Induarroz, Colombia’s rice millers’ association. Conversations centered around the future of U.S. rice exports to Colombia and ways USRPA and Induarroz can continue to work together.  USRPA Staff with Induarroz leaders Daniel Rodriguez, Sandra Avellaneda, and Ricardo Lozano |
| This week’s market update will piggyback on some of the highlights from our Missouri Rice Field Day earlier this week. Harvest continues to look strong where it is ahead of schedule in all states. Arkansas is now just over 10% and going strong. The optimism for a quality crop continues with 79% in the Good to Excellent condition. With rice finally coming in the barn, it’s nice to view a quick recap of production and its variance from last year. Take a look below: · Arkansas: 1.31 million acres + 100,000 acres · Louisiana: 435,000 acres + 38,000 acres · Mississippi: 158,000 acres + 38,000 acres · Missouri: 210,000 acres + 193 acres · Texas: 140,000 acres + 120 acres · TOTAL LG: 2.251 million + 200,000 total In California, acres bumped to 470,000 acres, a 20,000 acres increase from initial projections, but a drop over 30,000 acres from last year. On the ground, paddy is being quoted at $385 CIF NOLA, which is down $15 from a month ago. This is expected to remain, but could firm up on tighter supplies as a result from the loss from the hurricane. Some of the hardest hit producers report losses in the 30% range. One challenge that has emerged in the last two weeks is the sky-rocketing barge rates, some bumping 750% of tariff, up 250-300% from just a week ago. Taking a look at the global picture, Brazil continues to be a factor in the Western Hemisphere. Their ending stocks are up slightly from last year but still down from historical average. USDA projects slightly higher exports than last year, but still more to develop here. Central America is forecast to import 25-30m tons more than last year, as opportunities for USA with Brazil are slightly down. Mexico, the largest market for U.S. long-grain is back again, after a few years of reduced demand due to Brazil and Asian origin rice. We expect to see greater demand to this destination as they are projected to import 860 MT. Colombia trade has been relatively consistent each year since the COL-RICE trade agreement. In the Middle East demand forecast up 255 MT tons year over year, coming out of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE. Iraq’s purchase of 40,000 MT, which will be shipped this fall, is welcomed demand after ongoing financing issues. The weekly USDA Export Sales report shows net sales of 19,800 MT this week, primarily for Guatemala (5,000 MT), Honduras (5,000 MT), Jordan (4,600 MT), Mexico (1,600 MT), and Japan (1,200 MT). Exports of 34,400 MT were primarily to Mexico (25,800 MT), Canada (2,600 MT), South Korea (2,400 MT), Jordan (1,200 MT), and Japan (1,100 MT). |
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 Early Bird Pricing Alert! Reserve your spot before December 15, 2024, to lock in the discounted rate of $750. Also, the 2025 Sponsor & Exhibitor Brochure has been released! Previous year's sponsors and exhibitors are given priority to choose their booth placements for 2025. Past sponsors, ensure you seize this opportunity! Booth availability will open to the general public on Friday, September 6. Register for RMTC2025 |
| Consume Arroz USA is a communication and promotional campaign developed by US Rice Producers Association in Mexico as part of its marketing efforts to position and increase U.S. rice consumption worldwide. This campaign comprehends a series of strategies combining activities at point of sale with digital marketing to reach various target markets. For a couple of years now, USRPA has been partnering with renowned chefs and influencers to support its campaigns and directly communicate to an audience that’s continuously looking for food content and different ways to include innovative recipes into their daily diet. In 2023, Consume Arroz USA surpassed 8 million views in its digital communication, having collaborations with Chef Carlos Leal and social media outlets with a high volume of traffic. For 2024, and due to last year's great results, US Rice Producers Association will join efforts with five top influencers who have a powerful presence in social media (especially Instagram) to produce a video series of rice recipes where consumers can learn how easy it is to cook a complete meal for their families and friends. Carlos Leal, Giovanna Ronci, Melissa Morelos, Sara Cardenas and Luz Colsa will share delicious dishes with U.S. rice as the main ingredient to delight Mexican consumers. Consume Arroz USA 2024's first content posted this week, where Sara Cardenas showed us how to prepare some wonderful "bolitas de arroz" in a fast and fun way. In less than one day, this recipe has more than 2400 likes and over 360 followers shared it in their feed. We're confident that this year’s program will be a complete success, and we can be sure that we will see amazing U.S. rice dishes and be happy while tasting them with our families! |
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| The WASDE report was released on August 12th. The outlook for U.S. rice this month calls for reduced supplies, steady domestic use, steady exports, and lower ending stocks. The supply decrease is based on lower production and reduced beginning stocks. The new average all-rice yield is forecast at 7,623 lbs/acre, down 22 lbs from last month. The projected 2024/25 all rice ending stocks are lowered by 2.4 million cwt to 43.6 million cwt. Despite this drop, we are still up 14% compared to last year, which has been the plan because of the increased crop size. The Global Outlook calls for decreases across the board in supplies, consumption, trade, and ending stocks. The lower supplies are on account of decreased stocks out of Vietnam and the Philippines. World Consumption dropped slightly based on figures coming out of Vietnam, the Philippines, and Kenya. The global trade drop is because of Brazil not having any rice, Vietnam slowing some, and of course, India. The International Grains Council also released a report this week, citing a few key points in the Western Hemisphere. Over the past month, U.S. prices have dropped from the $790 pmt range it has been sitting at since March, down to $770 pmt. This is despite demand from Latin America, but overweighted by the expectations of the larger crop. Per the report, Uruguay quotes dropped to $803/ton as purchases by Brazil and the EU declined. In Asia, Thai is now quoted at $565 pmt and Viet took a big jump to $595, up from only $570 pmt last week because of a large purchase from BULOG out of Indonesia. Philippine business is steady, as is demand from other Asian countries. On the ground, the crop continues to look great, with a full 80% being reported in Good to Excellent condition! Last year it was only 66% at this time, and also 27% as Fair. This year, only 17% is reported as Fair because it has bumped into the Good condition. In regards to harvest, Louisiana is now more than halfway through, with Texas catching up now over 40%. Arkansas has barely started, and all other states are patiently waiting for rice to mature. Some boards are being pulled in California, as harvest is expected to begin in approximately 30 days. There is concern about yields on the West Coast because of the excessive heat this summer, but we are not making any calls yet. The weekly USDA Export Sales report shows net sales of 68,000 MT this week, primarily for Iraq (40,000 MT) and El Salvador (12,500 MT). Exports of 71,500 MT were primarily to Turkey (28,000 MT), Japan (15,700 MT), Saudi Arabia (9.200 MT), Honduras (6,600 MT), and Jordan (2,700 MT). |
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| Early Bird Pricing Alert! Reserve your spot before December 15, 2024, to lock in the discounted rate of $750. Also, the 2025 Sponsor & Exhibitor Brochure has been released! Previous year's sponsors and exhibitors are given priority to choose their booth placements for 2025. Past sponsors, ensure you seize this opportunity! Booth availability will open to the general public on Friday, September 6. Register for RMTC2025 |
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| The Creed Rice Market Report and RiceOnline.com website comprise the best rice market news and information systems for marketing your rice. We have subscribers around the world, from growers to millers, government agencies to banks, importers and exporters, just to name a few. Subscribe today at RiceOnline.com. |
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| The 28th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, the Southern Corn & Soybean Conference, the Southern Precision Ag Conference, and the Delta States Irrigation Conference are headed to Memphis, TN. Sponsored by Cotton Incorporated, US Rice Producers Association, and the production of MidAmerica Farm Publications, the event is scheduled for January 27 - January 28, 2025, at the Hilton Memphis, Memphis, TN. “This conference has the reputation as being the number one place where all producers can learn the latest production methods and techniques being utilized by the leading Ag producers, researchers, and the Ag industry in the United States,” said John LaRose, Jr., President and publisher, of MidAmerica Farm Publications. The conference is fast becoming the leading source for Certified Crop Consultants to earn Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). The 2024 conference was approved for over 60 hours of CEUs by the Certified Crop Advisors Association. It is expected that similar CEUs will be offered in the 2025 conferences. Find registration and full details as they become finalized by visiting www.nctd.net |
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