Thai-China rice deals: PCAD protests at Chinese embassy in Bangkok

[wwest5829]

To the extent that these people ever had a plot, they have now completely lost it. Insane....

I agree. Why the hell would China want to buy rice from Thailand unless it is sold to them cheaper than their own domestic supply? Smoke & mirrors, and they actually think people believe their claim. Insane.

Certainly, China like all would be interested in a good deal. Added to that however, tell me again China's population and it's domestic ability to be self sustaining? China will be increasing both what they can produce domestically and have added needs to import.

[Thai at Heart]

To the extent that these people ever had a plot, they have now completely lost it. Insane....

I agree. Why the hell would China want to buy rice from Thailand unless it is sold to them cheaper than their own domestic supply? Smoke & mirrors, and they actually think people believe their claim. Insane.

Maybe because they can't get hold of Hom Mali from their domestic supply? That's why. The Chinese arent all stupid corrupt people.

Top 20 Rice Producers by Country—2012

(million metric ton)^[73]People's Republic of China 204.3 India 152.6 Indonesia 69.0 Vietnam 43.7 Thailand 37.8 Bangladesh 33.9 Burma 33.0 Philippines 18.0 Brazil 11.5 Japan 10.7 Pakistan 9.4 Cambodia 9.3 United States 9.0 South Korea 6.4 Egypt 5.9 Nepal 5.1 Nigeria 4.8 Madagascar 4.0 Sri Lanka 3.8 Laos 3.5

As you can see, China produces 204mn tonns of rice. 1mn tonnes barely registers in their national production.

World production of rice has risen steadily from about 200 million tonnes of paddy rice in 1960 to over 678 million tonnes in 2009. The three largest producers of rice in 2009 were China (197 million tonnes), India (131 Mt), and Indonesia (64 Mt). Among the six largest rice producers, the most productive farms for rice, in 2009, were in China producing 6.59 tonnes per hectare.^[75] At 44 million hectares, India had the largest farm area under rice production in 2009. The rice farm productivity in India were about 45% of the rice farm productivity in China, and about 60% of the rice farm productivity in Indonesia.

If India could adopt the farming knowledge and technology in use in China and Indonesia, India could produce an additional 100 million tonnes of rice, enough staple food for about 400 million people every year,

Beyond that, i think the desire that Thailand keeps its mantle as top exporter is pointless anyway. India can increase its productivity just by increasing technology and practices to dwarf any amount that Thailand can grow for export. The entire concept of being proud to be the dominant exporter of rice in the world is silly. Thailand exports 20mn tonnes of rice, which makes up a tiny amount of production. Hardly a sustainable business is it. If all the major growers increase their production by a few percent, demand for most exported Thai rice drops to zilch. I mean honestly. Relying on the philippines and its corrupt government and a natural disaster or two world wide is hardly worth it. A few bumper crops here and there, and the market can become awash with rice.

Thai farmers need to learn to focus on something else, instead of being cajoled into producing an export crop that barely brings them any money. I really fail to see who has really benefitted from all of this work and effort to develop Thailands rice crop as an export other than the millers and exporters. Thailand should have been desperately trying to diversify the rice farmers into something else for the last 20 years.

World's top 10 rice importers (in million tonnes):

Country Imports Forecast

(2011) (2012)

1. Indonesia 3.09 1.25

2. Nigeria 2.55 2.45

3. Iran 1.87 1.90

4. Bangladesh 1.48 0.40

5. EU-27 1.47 1.40

6. Philippines 1.20 1.50

7. Malaysia 1.07 1.08

8. Saudi Arabia 1.05 1.15

9. Iraq 1.03 1.20

10.Ivory Coast 0.93 0.95

Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

God forbid Indonesia and Nigeria take up eating potatoes. The whole market would be finished.

Edited March 6, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[geriatrickid]

The " deal " with China is a Memorandum of Understanding only. Surapong - who has been a private citizen now for two days according to Article 127, but still wants to pretend he has the ears of the nation and the world - spreads the Thaksin talking talks with as much zeal as he ever did. But no one is listening. Maybe he should try singing.

He is not a private citizen and still lawfully occupies his post. If you wish to quote the law, have the courtesy to at least understand the applicable laws.

The purchase of rice by the Chinese is typical of the trade in commodities. When there is a market glut, one sometimes has to accommodate that glut in the pricing. The alternative would be to continue to hold large stockpiles of rice. A memorandum of understanding is not unusual when there is a government to government transaction. Do you expect them to express their intent by way of a post it note?

Edited March 6, 2014 by geriatrickid

[Bkk Cruiser]

"I don't want them to organise a protest like that, because the Chinese want to buy Thai rice out of their desire to help Thai farmers," Mr. Surapong said."

No, Khun Surapong, the Chinese are not buying the rice to help the farmers.

They are buying it because of the dirt cheap price you are selling to them.

And I don't want any clever questions as to how I know the price.

Use your common sense.

Quite correct, Costas.

I live in China now these days, and outside from cities is mainly farming communities, a lot of rice, similar to Thailand. China would only be interested in buying rice from Thailand if the price makes sense to them.... else it would be sought domestically.

My hunch is that no or few actual purchases will result from the MOU.

There are some rice varieties that are highly sort after. They aren't buying thai rice to feed every man in china. Making statements like "they grow rice in china, why do they want"? Is a bit silly.

They make cars there too and phones, I can't think why they buy iPhone or BMW.

Having lived in China for the last two years.. I agree with Thai at Heart.. when the 'modern trade' supermarkets and hypermarkets in the major cities sell Thai Hom Mali rice in bulk the self serve bins are often overwhelmed with queues of shoppers preferring to buy large quantities at a time. The smaller grain local varieties is not as popular if the Thai long grain varieties are available.... another factor is with modern trade customers the Thai rice has a better reputation for easier cooking of certain dishes and vastly improved food safety standards (using minimal levels of chemical residue).

[fab4]

Scamper, on 06 Mar 2014 - 14:27, said:

The " deal " with China is a Memorandum of Understanding only. Surapong - who has been a private citizen now for two days according to Article 127, but still wants to pretend he has the ears of the nation and the world - spreads the Thaksin talking talks with as much zeal as he ever did. But no one is listening. Maybe he should try singing.

Sorry Scamper, every time you write about "private citizens" wrt the caretaker government you just embarrass yourself more.

Maybe you should try singing - you've failed big time at political punditry.

[Fat Haggis]

Barstool lawyers, you got to love them really, as they always seem to know more about the law than real bona fide ones

[celso]

 

The " deal " with China is a Memorandum of Understanding only. Surapong - who has been a private citizen now for two days according to Article 127, but still wants to pretend he has the ears of the nation and the world - spreads the Thaksin talking talks with as much zeal as he ever did. But no one is listening. Maybe he should try singing.

You're on to something Scamper.. I think you may have caught Surapong here! Go to his office tomorrow and give a citizens arrest, you'll be a hero, people will even stop calling you farang!

[tonbridgebrit]

All of us, Thai or foreigner, should be carefull if cheerng on this PDRC demonstration outside the Chinese embassy.

Both Thaksin and Abhisit are actually Chinese. And no matter what anybody says, antagonising China is not a good idea. Especially if you are an Asian country.

[Thai at Heart]

Irrespective of where people come from, protesting at Embassies particularly against a country that is buying your produce, is so stupid, one cannot believe it really.

Maybe the Chinese should go and protest at the one in Beijing for dragging them into this mess. The Thais would c**p themselves.

[Fat Haggis]

I worked for the Chinese last year for 12 months, they don't mess around, but once they get to know you,and vice versa, as difficult as they are, I could still get a laugh and a joke with them, they're set in their ways, that's for sure!!

[belg]

can we know the price per ton ? and ... why cant thai people buy at this price?

or is it just old, rotten, moldy, pest ridden ?