RICE STOCK

• The country’s total rice stock inventory as of December 1, 2008 was estimated at 2.95 million metric tons. This was higher than the previous month’s level by 0.6 percent and last year’s level by 28.9 percent.
• Household stock was 3.6 percent more than the November 1, 2008 inventory. Commercial warehouses and NFA depositories reported lower stock levels compared to last month’s stocks by 4.7 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively.
• Compared to 2007 levels, this year’s December 1 holdings were higher, with NFA reporting a substantial expansion of 169.9 percent. Stocks in commercial warehouses were also up by 12.6 percent and in the households, by 0.2 percent. About 66 percent of NFA stocks were imported rice.
• As of the reporting period, NFA rice stocks would be good for 29 days, while those in the commercial sector would be good for 16 days. Households rice stock would last for 45 days. The total rice stock would be enough for 90 days.

CORN STOCK

• The December 1, 2008 total corn stock inventory of 207.2 thousand metric tons was 1.3 percent higher compared to last month’s record but 10.2 percent below last year’s level.
• Compared to last month’s records, stock position in the households increased by 14.3 percent while in the commercial warehouses, inventory was down by 8.4 percent. Relative to last year’s level, stocks in the households and commercial warehouses were down by 15.6 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively.
• NFA did not have any corn stock during the inventory period.