RICE STOCK

• The level of stocks during the reference period dropped from levels in month before as less harvests came in the later part of January. Total rice stock as of February 1, 2004 reached 2.11 million metric tons good for an 80-day supply. It was lower than last month’s stock volume and same month last year by 11.3 and 7.1 percent, respectively.
• Current stock position in all sectors (household, commercial and NFA) dropped from their month ago levels by 15.0, 12.0 and 3.0 percent, respectively.
• Compared to last year’s levels the NFA and commercial sectors’ holdings dropped by 24.9 and 3.2 percent respectively. In contrast, household stocks went up by 5.1 percent.
• Almost half (49%) of the total  stock were in the households, NFA had 28 percent (around 62% of their inventory were imported), and 23 percent were kept in commercial warehouses.

CORN STOCK

• The latest national corn stock inventory was 206 thousand metric tons, lower than the preceding month and last year’s level by 2.4 and 10.7 percent, respectively.
• Compared to last year and month ago levels, major stock drawdown was observed in the commercial sector by 35.6 and 18.6 percent, respectively.
• Around 59% of the current corn stocks are with the households and 41% are with traders.
• NFA reported no corn stock for the period.