RICE STOCK

• The August 1, 2008 total rice stock inventory stood at 1.79 million metric tons. It was lower than previous month’s level by 14.3 percent, but 32.4 percent higher compared to last year’s record.
• Compared to their month ago levels, all sectors experienced stock drawdowns from 5.9 percent in NFA to 21.1 percent in the households.
• Compared to 2007 levels, this year’s August 1 holdings were higher, with NFA reporting a substantial expansion of 119.5 percent. Around 98 percent of NFA stocks are imported rice.
• As of the reporting period, rice stock in commercial warehouses was good for 7 days supply, while those in households and NFA depositories were good for 22 days supply and 27 days supply, respectively. The total stock was enough for 56 days supply.

CORN STOCK

• The August 1, 2008 corn  stock inventory of 171 thousand tons was 10.2 percent lower than last month’s level, but 49.3 percent higher than last year’s record.
• Households’ current corn holdings increased by 19.7 percent from previous month’s level but went down by 10.9 percent from that of last year. In contrast, stocks in commercial warehouses dropped by 23.4 percent from last month’s record but registered significant increase of 178.4 percent from previous year’s level.
• Around 41 percent of the current corn stocks are with households and 59 percent are with commercial warehouses.
• NFA reported no corn grain stock for the period.