Gronghui May 17 丨 The weather was disturbed againmariobrosarcadegameAfter a period of calm in the rice market, the price of this staple food has returned to a 15-year high. Last year, supplies were disrupted due to sweeping export restrictions from India, the world's largest exporter, and concerns that El Niño-triggered dry weather would curb production in key growing areas in Southeast Asia. Now, catastrophic floods in southern Brazil are fueling unease. Thai white rice prices have risen US$71 since early April to US$649/ton. In January this year, the price of white rice in Thailand reached its highest level in more than 15 years. Charles Hart, a commodities analyst at Fitch's BMI division, said severe floods in Brazil have caused recent surges in rice prices, and the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which accounts for 70% of Brazil's rice production, is expected to be affected in the next few weeks. At the same time, Peter Clubb, an analyst at the International Grains Council, said slowing food supplies in Southeast Asia have also pushed up prices. He said this is because the harvests of Thailand's small-season crops and Vietnam's main winter and spring crops have ended.
