FAO CEREAL PRICE INDEX FALLS IN FEBRUARY
The report, which was released March 8, noted corn export prices dropped the most as expectations of large harvests in Argentina and Brazil, along with competitive prices offered by Ukraine eager to take advantage of the smooth running of the maritime trade route, weighed on the market. A decline in international wheat prices due to a strong export pace from the Russian Federation, which exerted downward pressure on prices from other origins, in particular the European Union, the FAO said. Following the same trajectory, world prices of barley and sorghum also eased.
International rice prices edged down by 1.6% in February, as, aside from Indonesian purchases, fresh import demand remained broadly slow and new-crop harvests began in some supplier countries. The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index cited lower world prices of soy, sunflower and rapeseed oils that more than offset marginally higher palm oil quotations. International soy oil prices dropped markedly in February, mainly underpinned by prospects of abundant soybean outputs from South America amid generally favorable harvesting conditions, the FAO said. Global sunflower and rapeseed oil prices decreased, reflecting lingering ample global export availabilities.
(Link: WorldGrain)
OVER 29,000 HECTARES OF RICE IN THE MEKONG DELTA ARE AT RISK OF SALINE INTRUSION
The Department of Water Resources reports that the Mekong Delta is currently experiencing its highest salinity level during the dry season of 2023-2024. This trend is projected to continue until the end of the dry season, which is anticipated to occur around April to May of this year. At the present moment, an estimated 29,260 hectares of rice are susceptible to the detrimental effects of saline intrusion. In particular, the following areas are measured by area: 1,400 hectares in Tien Giang, 2,500 hectares in Ben Tre, 13,000 hectares in Tra Vinh, 6,000 hectares in Soc Trang, and 6,360 hectares in Ca Mau. The Mekong Delta region has cultivated rice on an area of 1.499 million hectares for the winter-spring harvest of 2023-2024, 99.98% of the original plan of 1.5 million hectares. As of now, an estimated 575,000 hectares have been harvested, which includes the complete area that was sown in early October and November 2023 to prevent saline intrusion.
(Link: VietnamAgrculture)
