China, the world’s largest rice consumer, is expected to become the largest rice importer this year, according to a new report. China’s rice imports this year will surge to three million tons from 2.34 million tons a year ago, according to the United States Department of Agriculture report featured prominently in the Chinese media today…Full-text article: The Hindu Business Line May 2013

Key point

The rise in rice imports are being attributed to high domestic prices stemming from the Chinese government’s minimum grain purchase price versus cheaper global prices

ChinaAg Comment

In 2011, China produced 201 million MTs of rice and imported 922,052 MTs (valued at US$695 million). From January to September 2012, China imported 2.1 million MTs imported, valued at US$1.1 billion