RICE STOCK

• The total rice stock inventory as of March 1, 2008 was estimated at 1.68 million metric tons, lower than previous month’s level by 8.5 percent but 5.7 percent higher compared to last year’s record. The current stock is enough to last for 52 days.
• Comparative estimates with those of last month showed stock drawdowns in the households and commercial warehouses by 12.5 and 7.0 percent, respectively. On the other hand, NFA stocks of which 90 percent are imported rice, rose by 6.4 percent from its month ago level.
• Compared to last year, the stock holdings in commercial warehouses went up  by 25.3 percent and NFA depositories by 4.2 percent. In contrast, stock in the households was slightly lower by 0.2 percent.
• Of the current stock level, about 59 percent  are with the households while 24 and 17 percent are in commercial and NFA depositories, respectively.

CORN STOCK

• The March 1, 2008 corn stock inventory of 182 thousand metric tons was lower by 7.3 percent than last month’s level and 24.9 percent compared to same period in 2007.
• Compared to last month household stock was higher by 3.5 percent. However, stock in commercial warehouses went down by 19.3 percent over same period last month.
• Both household and commercial stocks went down by 11.0 and 38.6 percent, respectively, compared to last year’s records.
• NFA reported no corngrain stock for the period.