PRIME MINISTER CALMS PUBLIC FEAR

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has instructed ministries, local governments, and food companies to ensure enough rice for local consumption and export.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to ensure adequate supply of seeds and other raw materials and equipment for the upcoming summer crop.

The media has also been told to report accurately to avoid fanning unfounded public fears.

Source: Government website

RICE FEVER RUNS HOT IN THE PROVINCES

HANOI – Most of the retailers in Xanh Market (Kim Lien area) were informed by suppliers of the new prices Sunday.

Prices of most rice varieties sold in the capital have increased between VND12,000 (US$0.8) and VND30,000 ($1.9).

Several retailers said – though they work with three or four rice suppliers – most of their suppliers had announced they had no stock left.

After the rumors about rice shortages spread from Southern provinces, some of Hanoi’s supermarkets also ran out, including Hapro Food, Intimex and Big C.

According to a representative from Hanoi’s supermarket Big C, the number of customers seeking rice increased seven-fold by Sunday afternoon.

The typical amount of rice sold on a Sunday at Big C was around 300 kg.

NHA TRANG – Several rice shops said rice prices have increased by VND2,000 to VND4,000 per kilogram compared to April 26.

Local retailers said they would not restrict sales or stock additional rice.

NINH THUAN – By 5 p.m. Sunday, some rice shops in Ninh Thuan Province closed and said they had already run out of stock.

Some shops said they would re-open when the rice fever settles.

According to a rice retailer in the city of Phan Rang, a 50-kg package increased from VND400,000 ($25) to VND600,000 ($37.4) within 24 hours.

DAK LAK – Many retailers temporarily shut down their businesses and said they would not buy more rice.

Prices of most rice varieties sold in the city of Buon Ma Thuot have all increased between 50 and 70 percent.

CAN THO – Many rice retailers complained Sunday their suppliers were not distributing rice, avoiding filling orders by refusing to answer their telephones.

A local rice wholesaler said rice distributors along Can Tho and Phong Dien rivers were only selling the food staple in limited quantities.

Meanwhile, some large-scale distributors temporarily closed their businesses, explaining it was too difficult to buy rice.

TIEN GIANG – Many rice processors and distributors at Ba Dac rice outlet, a rice supply hub in the Mekong Delta region, have been stockpiling the food staple, planning to sell when prices rise further.

A rice wholesaler at Ba Dac said the rice fever began when some purchasers from other areas came to the area several days ago offering to buy rice “at any price.” IR50404, the cheapest type of rice, jumped from VND9,100 (US$0.57) on April 25 to VND12,500 ($0.78) per kilogram Sunday morning, but some suppliers were asking an even higher price of VND14,000 ($0.88) per kilogram.

CA MAU – Dozens of residents came to Song Doc Town’s People’s Committee office seeking assistance because rice was difficult to buy and very expensive.

The town administration contacted some rice suppliers in Hau Giang Province and they agreed to supply rice to the town at the price of VND11,500 ($0.72) per kilogram without limitations on quantity.

The town government announced on the local radio network it was willing to buy rice on behalf of residents.

This action helped to lower rice prices from VND17,000 ($1.06) to VND14,500 ($0.91) per kilogram Sunday afternoon.

SOC TRANG – The Market Management Department, in coordination with relevant agencies, implemented spot checks on rice processors and distributors Sunday morning and asked them to post rice prices publicly and make a commitment to sell rice at those prices.

At 5 p.m. Sunday, the rice price settled at VND10,500 ($0.66) per kilogram, a decrease from between VND14,000 ($0.88) and VND15,000 ($0.94) per kilogram on April 26.