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Hanoi urged to allow more rice exports this yr
10/12/2005
HANOI, Oct 11 (Reuters): Exporters in Vietnam have asked the government to allow them to agree new deals to export rice this year, saying exportable supplies were ample at around 900,000 tonnes, state media reported today.
Last week, the government said it planned to halt rice exports to ensure sufficient food for people hit by storms and flash floods in northern and central provinces.
But exporters said stocks were more than sufficient to meet home demand and said the quality of the rise could deteriorate quickly if stored too long, the Sai Gon Giai Phong daily quoted Vietnam Food Association President Truong Thanh Phong as saying.
Phong said there were around 900,000 tonnes of rice in exporter warehouses, much higher than the government's estimate of 500,000 tonnes, and urged the government to allow businesses to resume signing new contracts.
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