Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Highlights of the week

Over the past week, staple food commodity prices remained relatively stable in most countries except for the following:

- Wheat prices in Afghanistan increased by 3 percent due to supply shortage among other factors. Chicken prices fell by 4 percent and were 4 percent above the levels observed a year ago.

- In Bangladesh and Cambodia, chicken prices fell by 3 and 4 percent and were 17 and 13 percent lower than those registered a year ago, respectively. - Taro prices in Fiji fell by 6 percent in early June and were 9 percent below the prices observed a month ago.

- In India, rice prices increased by 4 percent and were 13 percent above those observed a year ago.

- In Myanmar, wheat prices fell by 3 percent and were 14 percent above those registered a year earlier. Maize and groundnut oil prices increased by 2 and 4 percent, respectively.

- Taro prices in Samoa fell by 7 percent in May and taro palagi prices suddenly fell by 42 percent during the same month.

- In Viet Nam, rice and maize prices increased by 5 and 20 percent, respectively. Pork prices fell by 4 percent and were 27 percent below the levels observed a year ago.

For further detail, please refer to section on “Price and policy information at country level”.

Policy Prices

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

NationalIn India, a special programme to achieve more than 19 MMT pulse production has been launched in the present Kharif season* by accelerating productivity through adoption of innovative technologies relating to plant nutrition and water use. The funds for this special initiative are being released through National Food Security Mission (NFSM).

In Indonesia, a new policy has been announced for farmers in Malang regency, through the “Increased Food Production Programme” (Gerakan Peningkatan Produksi Pangan berbasis Korporasi-GPK3) where State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) sell Bulog rice at a price set by the government.

* Kharif refers to the planting, cultivation and harvesting of any plant/crop sown in the rainy (monsoon) season.

Weather conditions

Unprecedented �ooding has severely a�ected India (the north eastern state of Assam) and Bangladesh (Ramu area of Cox’s Bazaar). In Assam, India, the sowing of coarse cereals has been a�ected, particularly maize, bajra and jowar. An area of 1.04 million hectares has been covered against 2.47 million hectares (normal area). In response, the central government is supporting state governments to distribute food assistance and to make sure agriculture inputs (like seeds) are available for farmers. In Bangladesh, swaths of crops and vegetables have been damaged in a�ected areas. Fish have been swept away by the surging �oodwa-ters, and small farmer are now in dire straits. It is highly likely that they will face nutritional and �nancial crises in weeks to come (Press Information Bureau, Times of India and Christian Aid, 3 July 2012).

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

In Asia and the Paci�c Region, increases in

nominal rice prices above 10 percent were

observed in Cambodia (+11%), while

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia,

Myanmar, Pakistan and Thailand remained

above the prices observed in May within a

range from 1 to 7.5 percent. Yet, nominal

rice prices remained largely stable (+/-1%)

in �ve reporting countries (out of fourteen).

On a month to month basis, rice prices fell

in China (-1.5%) and India (-5%). During the past months*, nominal prices

of root crops have fallen at the retail level.

Taro prices in Fiji and Samoa fell by 6 and

7 percent respectively. Cassava prices in

Fiji fell by 11percent over the past month.

Over the past month, nominal maize prices in Asia

and the Paci�c Region increased signi�cantly in

Myanmar and Viet Nam, by 28 and 20 percent,

respectively. Maize prices also show a slight increase

in Afghanistan (+2.6%). In the Philippines maize

prices remained relatively stable from the levels

observed a month earlier.

Root crops

Vegetable oils

Maize Rice

Wheat (grain/ �our)

*Phkar Khney variety**Basmati variety*** 5% brokens

*Palm oil

Highlights: June 2012

The largest drop in prices among commodities

composing the Fao Food Price Index was for

Oils/Fats which, after falling by 6.8 percent in May,

fell by another 5.6 percent in June notwithstanding

prospects for further supply and demand tightness

for oilcrops in 2012/13. Over the past month, in Asia

and the Paci�c region, nominal vegetable oils/

cooking oil prices remained stable in half of the

reporting countries. On a month to month basis,

vegetable oil prices showed a 3 and 7 percent

decline in Bangladesh and Myanmar, respectively.

In Asia and Paci�c Region, over the past

month, nominal wheat prices fell in

Afghanistan (-8.9%), Bangladesh (-2.5%),

China (-1.4%) and India (-6.3%); and

remained largely stable (+/-1%) in

Indonesia and Pakistan. On a month to

month basis wheat prices in Myanmar and

Sri Lanka increased by 11 and 3.5 percent,

respectively.

*Fiji prices refer to June data while Samoan prices refer to May data.

↑ ↓ → (+/-1%)

Afghanisthan ↑6.5%

Bangladesh ↑1.3%

Bhutan →

Cambodia* ↑11%

China ↓1.5%

India ↓5%

Indonesia ↑1.9%

Lao PDR →

Myanmar ↑7%

Pakistan** ↑7.5%

Philippines →

Sri Lanka →

Thailand ↑2.5%

Viet Nam →

↑ ↓ → (+/-1%)

Afghanisthan ↓8.9%

Bangladesh ↓2.5%

China ↓1.4%

India ↓6.3%

Indonesia →

Myanmar ↑11%

Pakistan →

Sri Lanka ↑3.5%

↑ ↓ → (+/-1%)

Afghanisthan ↑2.6%

Myanmar ↑27.7%

Philippines →

Viet Nam ↑20%

↑ ↓ → (+/-1%)

Cassava, Fiji ↓11.3%

Taro, Fiji ↓5.6%

Taro, Samoa* ↓7%

↑ ↓ → (+/-1%)

Afghanisthan →

Bangladesh ↓2.8%

Cambodia →

Indonesia ↑1.3%

Myanmar* ↓6.8%

Thailand →

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Price Monitoring Model

IN FOCUS: PHILIPPINESPrice Movements (regular milled rice, national average)

Technical notes

The FAO Price Monitoring Model is a simple tool designed to assist policy makers, farmers and traders in assessing whether

recent price trends are in line with those typically observed in the past. The purpose of the model is to determine whether

short-term price movements of a commodity exceed a benchmark which takes into consideration seasonality, in�ation and

historic variability. The model uses only data on past prices and the consumer price index (CPI) to capture these characteris-

tics. It establishes an expected level of price for the following month along with a range of uncertainty generated by past

deviations from expected prices. Price movements can be interpreted as “excessive” if prices fall outside the benchmark

range. The di�erence between the actual price and the “benchmark price” (1 month in advance) that was forecasted for that

same month is also calculated by the model although not shown in the graph. An additional feature of the model is to

show the current level of prices relative to an average of past prices during the past four years (adjusted for in�ation). For

details on the model, please see: http://www.foodsec.org/web/publications/briefs/

The benchmark forecast price for July is PHP 32.15 per kilo, which is inside a benchmark range of PHP 31.95- 32.59. If prices follow normal seasonal patterns during the next three months, rice prices for the Philippines are likely to remain slightly higher but within a benchmark range of PHP 31.55- 33.54 per kilo by September 2012.

The graph shows that during the �rst semester of 2012, rice prices did not follow a seasonal pattern. Based on average past prices (purple line), from January to March 2012 prices typically increase by 2.1 percent, however, actual prices (green line) only increased less than one percent instead (0.6%). During the same period of time, total palay production (3.99 MMT) dropped by 1.1 percent from the same period in 2011 (4.04 MMT) due to weather conditions that delayed palay harvests to March into April (dry season) in some parts of the country. The graph also shows that from March to May 2012, average past prices normally increase by 2.5 percent while actual prices remained almost unchanged (0.2%).

On the other hand, from May to June, average past prices normally remain stable, and this time actual prices increased slightly by one percentage point. It is likely that better weather conditions and a delayed harvest had a�ected positively the total output from March to June. In this context, from January-June 2012, total rice production is expected to increase by 3.4 MMT, 7.7 percent above a year earlier.*

* Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (April 2012). Rice and Corn Situation Outlook.

32.59

33.00

33.54

31.95 31.87

31.55

31.8331.95

32.1132.20 32.19

31.93

32.27

32.4432.55

32.31

32.57

32.98

33.56

33.81 33.84

31.6931.77

31.8731.98

31.93

32.15

30

31

32

33

34

35

Jan 12 Feb 12 Mar 12 Apr 12 May 12 June 12 July 12 Aug 12 Sep 12P

HP

/kg

Benchmark band

Benchmark price (1 month in advance)

Average past price

Actual price

Benchmark Forecast

Price and policy information at country level

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

AP-Weekly-Price-Monitor@fao.org

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

1

Country Highlights

NA

Policy+

AFGHANISTAN, Kabul (2 July 2012)Retail nominal prices

Data sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock and World Food Programme (WFP).

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

Over the past week, staple food prices in Kabul market showed diverging trends, as some of them increased while others fell.- Wheat prices increased by 3 percent over the past week due to a combination of factors, among them supply shortage. Wheat prices were 14 percent below the levels observed a year ago.- Maize prices were 18 percent below the prices observed a year ago.- Chicken prices fell by 4 percent over the past week and were 4 percent above the levels observed a year ago.

Week of 2-Jul-12

Food item Market

Price (AFA/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Rice local Kabul 41.0 0.0% 6.5% 12.3% 13.9%

Wheat Kabul 16.0 3.2% -7.2% -6.8% -13.5%

Maize Kabul 20.0 0.0% 2.6% 11.1% -18.4%

Chicken Kabul 125.0 -3.8% -2.9% -4.8% 4.2%

Cooking oil (AFA/Lt) Kabul 87.0 1.2% 2.1% 2.1% 3.0%

% change

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

0

30

60

90

120

150

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

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11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

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25-J

un-1

2

2-Ju

l-12

AFA

/ kg

weekly data

Wheat Maize Rice (local) Chicken Cooking oil

2

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Staple food prices in Dhaka market have remained stable over the past week except for chicken prices.- Coarse rice prices were 13 percent below those observed a year ago.- Wheat �our prices were 14 percent higher than a year earlier.- Chicken prices fell by 3 percent over the past week and were 17 percent lower than those registered a year ago.- Soybean prices were 10 percent above the levels observed a year ago.

Country Highlights

Policy+

BANGLADESH, Dhaka (2 July 2012)Retail nominal prices

Data source: Ministry of Agriculture.

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

The government provides price support to the farmers amist a continued decline in prices of both rice and paddy through a procurement programme that buys rice and paddy at 28 BDT/kg and 18 BDT/kg, respectively, from domestic markets during the Boro season (accounts for 56 percent of the annual paddy production). The programme started in 3 May with a new procurement target (1 MMT) until 30 September 2012. As of 14 June, 0.2 MMT had been procured and 0.8 MMT had been contracted (Fortnightly Foodgrain Outlook 100, 19 June 2012).

Week of 2-Jul-12

Food item Market

Price (BDT/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Coarse rice Dhaka 28.5 0.0% 1.3% 0.0% -13.2%

Wheat flour Dhaka 29.0 0.0% -2.5% -4.9% 13.7%

Chicken broiler Dhaka 170.0 -2.9% 3.9% 12.9% -16.5%

Soybean oil (BDT/lt) Dhaka 121.0 0.4% -2.8% -2.5% 9.9%

% change

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

0

30

60

90

120

150

180

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

25-J

un-1

2

2-Ju

l-12

BD

T / k

g

weekly data

Rice (coarse) Wheat (flour) Chicken boiler Soybean Oil

3

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

CAMBODIA, Phnom Penh (2 July 2012)Wholesale nominal prices

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Staple food prices in Phnom Penh market have remained stable over the past week, except for rice (high quality).- Rice (Phkar Khney) prices increased by 8 percent over the past week and were 8 percent above those observed a year ago.- Chicken prices were 4 percent and were 13 percentbelow the levels registered a year ago.

Country Highlights

NA

Policy+

Data source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

25-J

un-1

2

2-Ju

l-12

KH

R /

kg

Weekly data

Rice (mix)* Rice milled (Phkar Khney) Rice (Neangminh) Soybean

Week of 2-Jul-12 % change

Food item MarketPrice

(KHR/ kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Rice (mix)** Phnom Pehn 2,000 11.1% 11.1% 11.1% 0.0%

Rice (Phkar Khney) Phnom Pehn 2,700 0.0% 8.0% 8.0% 8.0%

Rice (Neangminh) Phnom Pehn 2,200 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4.8%

Chicken Phnom Pehn 22,000 -4.5% -4.5% -8.7% -12.5%

Soybean oil Phnom Pehn 6,500 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

*Most recent price data available from 11- Jun-2012

4

CHINA, Beijing (2 July 2012)Retail and wholesale nominal prices

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Staple food prices in Beijing market have remained relatively stable over the past weeks.

Country Highlights

Heavy losses in grain due to processing facilities and laggard technologies total 25 MMT annually. In response, the Chinese government has allocated CYN 500 million (USD 79.14 million) in special funds this year to subsidize agriculture processing projects (Chinese Government O�cial Web Page, 3 July 2012).

Policy+

Data source: Beijing Municipal Bureau of Grain.

0

3

6

9

12

15

18

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

25-J

un-1

2

2-Ju

l-12

CN

Y/ k

g

Weekly data

Rice (non-glutinous ) Wheat flour (Fuqiang) Chiken Soybean (RMB/lt)

Week of 2-Jul-12

Food item Market

Price (RMB/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Non-Glutinous Rice Beijing 5.2 0.4% -1.5% -3.1% -2.4%

Fuqiang Wheat Flour Beijing 3.6 0.0% -1.4% -1.4% 1.8%

Chicken (w) Beijing 14.0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% -6.7%

Soybean oil RMB/lt Beijing 11.8 0.1% 0.4% 0.8% 4.0%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease (w) wholesale prices

% change

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

5

Staple food prices in Fiji markets have remained volatile over the past year; however price movements have been less abrupt over the past two months (+/-10%).- Cassava prices were relatively stable during early June. Still, prices were 8 percent below those observed a year ago.- Taro prices fell by 6 percent in early June and were 9 percent below the prices observed a month ago.Municipal markets had indicated that corn supply has been dried up since mid- May.

Country Highlights

According to a media report, prices of basic food and household items such as �our, sugar, soap and kerosene are rising in the Lau islands in Fiji due to shipping delays (Australia Network news, 1 July 2012).

Policy+

Fiji, National Average (11 June 2012)Retail nominal prices

Data source: Department of Agriculture.

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

Week of 11-Jun-12

Food item MarketPrice

(FJD/ kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Corn* National av 4.0 0.0% 10.8% 98% 88%

Cassava National av 0.7 -1.4% -13.3% -12.5% -7.6%

Dalo-tausala taro National av 1.0 -5.7% -13.8% -8.0% -8.7%

* Most recent price data available from 7-May-2012

% change

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

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21-M

ay-1

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28-M

ay-1

2

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n-12

11-J

un-1

2

FJD

/kg

Weekly data

Corn Cassava Dalo-tausala/taro

6

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Staple food prices in Delhi market have remained relatively stable over the past year. - Rice prices increased by 4 percent over the past week and were 13 percent above those observed a year ago.- Wheat prices remained 7 percent above the prices registered a year ago.

Country Highlights

- Wheat procurement during current Rabi marketing season 2012-13, has crossed the mark of 37 MMT in contrast with the procurement a year earlier (27.5 MMT) (Press Information Bureau, 22 June 2012). - A special programme to achieve more than 19 MMT pulse production has been launched in the present Kharif season by accelerating productivity through adoption of innovative technologies relating to plant nutrition and water use. The programme will promote planting of pigeon pea with groundnut, soybean or cotton. The funds for this special initiative are being released through National Food Security Mission (NFSM). States have been allocated an additional INR 1 073 million (USD 19.4 million) (Press Informa-tion Bureau, 2 July 2012).

Policy+

INDIA, Delhi (2 July 2012)Retail nominal prices

Data source: Ministry of Consumer A�airs and Public Food Distribution.

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

Week of 2-Jul-12

Food item Market

Price (INR/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Rice New Delhi 24.0 0.0% -5.0% -2.0% 4.3%

Wheat New Delhi 15.0 0.0% -6.3% -6.3% 0.0%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

% change

0

10

20

30

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

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11-J

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25-J

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2-Ju

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INR

/ kg

Weekly data

Rice Wheat

7

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

INDONESIA, National Average (2 July 2012)Retail nominal prices

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Staple food prices in Indonesia have remained relatively stable since mid 2011. - Rice prices were 2 percent below the prices observed three months ago and 12 percent higher than those registered a year earlier.- Chicken prices remained 32 percent below the levels observed a year ago.- Soybean prices were 2 percent above the levels observed a year ago.

Country Highlights

A new policy has been announced for Indonesian farmers in Malang regency, where rice harvest is a socially responsible corporation based activity (CSR) from State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) through the “Increased Food Production Programme” (Gerakan Peningkatan Produksi Pangan berbasis Korporasi-GPK3). This activity is worth INR 4.9 million (USD 520.5 million) and it is channelled as a revolving fund to 1,114 farmers in Malang Regency to support rice production. These farmers harvest a land area of 1,366 hectares with a production of 8-9 MT per hectare. Bulog then buys the crop at a price set by the government in accordance with Instruction No. 3 of 2012 (Malang Regency Government and Bulog, 9 July 2012).

Policy+

Data source: Ministry of Trade.

Week of 2-Jul-12 % change

Food item Market

Price (IDR/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Rice (medium quality) National av 8,058 1.5% 1.9% 1.1% 12.2%

Wheat flour National av 7,569 0.2% 0.1% -0.1% 1.0%

Chicken National av 25,677 1.4% 5.3% 5.7% -1.4%

Soybean (local) National av 9,016 0.3% 1.3% 1.5% 2.9%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

25-J

un-1

2

2-Ju

l-12

IDR

/ kg

Weekly data

Rice (medium quality) Wheat flour Soybean (local)

8

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

MYANMAR, Yangon and Mandalay (2 July 2012)Wholesale nominal prices

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Staple food prices in Myanmar show diverging trends over the past week.- Rice, soybean and palm oil prices remained stable over the past week. Yet, rice prices were 9 percent below the levels observed a year ago.- Wheat prices fell by 3 percent over the past week and were 14 percent above those registered a year earlier. - Maize and groundnut oil prices increased by 2 and 4 percent over the past week, respectively.

Country Highlights

According to a media report, a group of non-government organisa-tions working on agriculture-related issues recently launched a plan aimed at protecting the land use rights of the country’s smallholder farmers. The Land Core Group is an initiative of the Food Security Working Group, a network of more than 100 local and international organisations. Its plan focuses on four main themes – agricultural land, forests, land above 1000 feet and contract farming – and identi�es four main stakeholders: govern-ment and o�cials, farmers, the private sector, and civil society (Myanmar Times, 2 July 2012).

Policy+

Data source: E-Trade Myanmar.

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

25-J

un-1

2

2-Ju

l-12

MM

K/k

g

Weekly data

Rice (Manawthukha FQ) Maize Wheat (Monywa Origin)Groundnut oil (Special) Soybean (Theik pan) Palm oil

Week of 2-Jul-12 % change

Food item Market

Price (MMK/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Rice (Manawthukha FQ) Yangon 329 0.8% 7.0% 19.3% -9.3%

Wheat (Monywa Origin) Mandalay 503 -2.5% 11.0% 17.5% 13.8%

Maize Mandalay 274 2.1% 27.7% 32.7% 83.4%

Groundnut oil (Special) Yangon 2,735 3.7% 14.5% 19.9% 26.7%

Soybean (Theik pan) Yangon 506 -1.9% -2.9% 6.0% 2.7%

Palm oil Mandalay 1,063 1.5% -6.8% -11.5% -4.1%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

9

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Staple food prices in Karachi market remained stable over the past week.

As observed in the table below, rice prices, basmati and IRRI varieties, were 32 and 11 percent above the prices observed a year ago, respectively. Wheat and wheat �our prices were 7 and 4 percent higher than those observed a year earlier, respec-tively.

Country Highlights

According to a media report, the production of major Kharif crops is likely to decline due to shortage of water and non-availability of electricity in the country (Business Recorder, 3 July 2012).

Policy+

PAKISTAN, Karachi (2 July 2012)Retail nominal prices

Data source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

0

15

30

45

60

75

Jun-

11

Jul-1

1

Aug

-11

Sep-

11

Oct

-11

Nov

-11

Dec

-11

Jan-

12

Feb-

12

Mar

-12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

25-J

un-1

2

2-Ju

l-12

PK

R/ k

g

Weekly data

Rice (basmati)* Rice (IRRI) Wheat Wheat (flour)

Week of 2-Jul-12 % change

Food item Market

Price (PKR/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Rice (basmati) Karachi 67.5 0.0% 7.5% 9.7% 31.8%

Rice (IRRI) Karachi 48.5 0.6% 2.4% 3.4% 11.0%

Wheat Karachi 27.0 -0.1% 0.5% -1.4% 6.5%

Wheat flour Karachi 30.9 0.1% 0.6% -0.3% 4.1%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

10

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

PHILIPPINES, National average and Metro Manila (25 June 2012)Retail nominal prices

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Country Highlights

Policy+

Data source: Department of Agriculture.

Staple food prices in the Philippines have remained largely stable since early 2011. - Rice (regular milled) prices were 3 percent above those regis-tered a year ago.- Corn (white) prices were 4 percent above the levels observed a year earlier.

NA

Week of 25-Jun-12 % change

Food item Market

Price (PHP/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Rice (regular milled) National av 32.2 0.1% 0.9% 0.8% 2.8%

Rice (well milled) National av 35.3 0.1% -0.1% 0.1% 1.5%

Corn (white) National av 19.4 0.0% -1.7% -1.0% 3.9%

Rice (regular milled) Metro Manila 30.0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Rice (well milled) Metro Manila 35.0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

0

10

20

30

40

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

25-J

un-1

2

PH

P /

kg

Weekly data

Rice (regular milled) National av Rice (well milled) National av Corn (white) National av

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

11

Staple food prices in Samoan markets showed diverging trends over the past month: taro, ta’amu and coconut prices dropped while banana prices increased.- Taro prices fell by 7 percent in May and were 45 and 32 percent above the prices observed a year and three years ago, respec-tively. - Taro palagi prices suddenly fell by 42 percent over the past month and were 23 percent above and 15 percent below the levels observed three months and a year ago, correspondingly.

Country Highlights

NA

Policy+

SAMOA, National Average (May 2011)Retail nominal prices

Data source: Samoa Bureau of Statistics.

(corrected version) Issue 64-65, 15 June 2012

Month of May-12 % change

Food item Market

Price (SAT/

kg) 1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

3 ye

ars

Taro Fugalei 2.6 -7.0% -1.7% 45.1% -32.4%

Taro palagi Fugalei 2.3 -41.5% 24.1% 22.6% -14.9%

Ta'amu Fugalei 4.4 -14.5% 9.9% 110.5% -6.5%

Coconut Fugalei 0.6 -3.3% 7.4% 11.5% 20.8%

Banana Fugalei 1.2 7.9% 25.0% 34.2% -22.5%

Chicken (leg quarters)*National Av 4.5 0.0% 1.5% 8.0% -10.6%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

May

-11

Jun-

11

Jul-1

1

Aug

-11

Sep-

11

Oct

-11

Nov

-11

Dec

-11

Jan-

12

Feb-

12

Mar

-12

Apr

-12

May

-12

SA

T/ k

g

Taro Taro palagi Ta'amu Coconut Banana Chicken (leg quarters)

12

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

SRI-LANKA, Colombo (18 June 2012)Retail nominal prices

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Staple food prices in Colombo have remained stable over the past week.- Rice prices were 8 percent below the levels observed a year ago.- Wheat prices were 10 percent above the levels observed a year ago.

Country Highlights

Five month long severe drought is threatening 101,100 hectares of paddy land in the Mahaweli Zones. In response, the govern-ment is providing irrigation assistance to revive all irrigation systems to the farmers whose cultivation has been a�ected by the drought. These farmers are also being provided daily wages for their labour contribution in public construction tasks (Government of Sri Lanka, 3 July 2012).

Policy+

Data source: Department of Census and Statistics.

Week of 18-Jun-12 % change

Food item Market

Price (LKR/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Rice (white) Colombo 52.4 1.0% 0.7% -1.3% -8%

Wheat flour Colombo 93.5 -0.1% 3.5% 10.6% 10%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

0

30

60

90

May

11

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

LKR

/ kg

Weekly data

Rice (white) Wheat (flour)

13

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Overall, staple food prices have remained largely stable over the past week.- Rice prices (25% brokens) were 13 and 26 percent above the levels registered a month and a year ago, respectively. - Pork prices were 14 percent below the prices observed a year ago.

Country Highlights

According to a media report, the government plans to resched-ule to August its rice price-intervention period for the next crop by moving it up two months. The government arranges its regular pledging scheme twice a year to suit Thailand's planting seasons (Bangkok Post, 25 June 2012).

Policy+

THAILAND, Bangkok (2 June 2012)Retail nominal prices

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

Data source: Ministry of Trade.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jun

11

Jul 1

1

Aug

11

Sep

11

Oct

11

Nov

11

Dec

11

Jan

12

Feb

12

Mar

12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

25-J

un-1

2

2-Ju

l-12

THB

/ kg

Weekly data

Soybean oil White rice 25% (w)

Week of 2-Jul-12 % change

Food item Market

Price (THB/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

White rice 25% (w) Bangkok 17.6 -1.3% 2.5% 12.9% 26.2%

Chicken Bangkok 62.5 0.0% 0.0% -4.8% -29.8%

Pork tenderloin Bangkok 127.5 0.0% -6.0% -4.2% -13.6%

Soybean oil (Baht/lt) Bangkok 55.0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease (w) wholesale prices

Issue 66-67, 6 July 2012

14

Asia Paci�c Weekly Price MonitorRegional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c

Staple food prices in the Hanoi remained stable over the past week. - Rice and pork prices were 7 and 9 percent below those observed a year ago, respectively.- Maize prices were 14 percent above the levels registered a year earlier.

Country Highlights

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has proposed Ministry of Industry and Trade to tighten sugar exports to China due to danger of sugar shortage in some next months. The 2011-2012 sugar production is forecast to be 1.3 MMT; meanwhile, the sugar demand this year is projected at 1.4 MMT (Ministry of Agriculture, 26 June 2012).

Policy+

VIET NAM, Hanoi (25 June 2012)Retail nominal prices

Data source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

0

12,000

24,000

36,000

48,000

60,000

72,000

Jun-

11

Jul-1

1

Aug

-11

Sep-

11

Oct

-11

Nov

-11

Dec

-11

Jan-

12

Feb-

12

Mar

-12

2-A

pr-1

2

9-A

pr-1

2

16-A

pr-1

2

23-A

pr-1

2

30-A

pr-1

2

7-M

ay-1

2

14-M

ay-1

2

21-M

ay-1

2

28-M

ay-1

2

4-Ju

n-12

11-J

un-1

2

18-J

un-1

2

25-J

un-1

2

VD

N/k

g

Weekly data

Rice (ordinary) Maize Pork

Week of 25-Jun-12 % change

Food item Market

Price (VND/

kg) 1 w

eek

1 m

onth

3 m

onth

s

1 ye

ar

Rice ordinary Hanoi 12,900 4.9% 1.0% -2.8% -6.2%

Maize Hanoi 12,000 20.0% 20.0% 20.0% 33.3%

Pork Hanoi 50,000 -3.8% 0.8% -4.1% -27.1%

→ (+/-2%) stable ↑increase ↓ decrease

Disclaimer and Acknowledgements The Asia Paci�c Weekly Price Monitor is prepared by the Economic, Social and Policy Assistance Group (ESP) of FAO Regional O�ce for Asia and the Paci�c with information from o�cial and uno�cial sources.Conditions can change rapidly and information may not always represent the current food price situation as of the present date . None of the country reports should be regarded in any way as statements of governmental views. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this newsbulletin do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerningthe legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This report has beenproduced with �nancial assistance from the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no waybe taken to re�ect the views of the European Union.

The support of FAO Country O�ces, FAO's Food and Agriculture Policy Decision Analysis (FAPDA) and the European Union through the EC-FAO FoodSecurity Programme “Linking information and decision-making to improve food security in selected countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion”are gratefully acknowledged for their contributions.

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