August 21, 2007	Tuesday	Sha’aban 7, 1428

MANILA, Aug 20: The Philippines announced on Monday it would hold a tender on Sept 7 for import of 260,000 tons of rice. The government’s National Food Authority said the 25 per cent broken variety rice could be sourced from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Pakistan, India, Australia or US.

However, the maximum quantity of Indian rice to be imported would be 25,000 tons and the limit for Pakistani, Australian and US rice would be 50,000 tons. The rice is for arrival in September and October.

The import was announced after a prolonged dry spell in the main rice-growing areas of Luzon island that ended only two weeks ago. Officials have said the rains earlier in August came too late to save the full harvest.

Officials said the Philippines’ rice output this year would rise between 3.5 and four per cent, below a target of around five per cent.—Reuters