THE country’s total rice inventory reached 2.62 million metric tons (MMT) as of January 1 and is good for 77 days, said a monthly report released by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) on Monday.
BAS noted in its report that the January inventory was 23.3 percent lower than last year’s inventory of 3.42 MMT and 15.2 percent lower than the inventory in December.
“As of Jan. 1, 2012, the total volume of rice stocks would be enough for 77 days. Household stocks would last 29 days. Stocks in the depositories of the National Food Authority (NFA) would be good for 30 days while those in commercial warehouses would last for 18 days,” said the BAS in its report.
The attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) noted that the NFA has stocks totaling 1.04 MMT while households have 980,000 metric tons (MT). Commercial warehouses stored 600,000 MT of milled rice as of Jan. 1.
“Compared to last year’s inventory, household stocks were lower by 13.8 percent and those in NFA depositories by 40 percent. However, stocks in commercial warehouses grew by 9.6 percent,” said BAS.
On a monthly basis, stocks in households were down by 22.5 percent and those in commercial warehouses by 15.1 percent.
“Of the current stock level, about 37 percent were with the households, 23 percent were with the commercial warehouses and 40 percent were with the NFA depositories,” said BAS.
The country’s total corn stock inventory reached 166,100 MT as of January 1. BAS noted that this was 8.9 percent higher than last year’s record of 152,500 MT.
A total of 104,200 MT of corn were stored in commercial warehouses while households held 61,700 MT of the produce. The NFA accounted for 20,000 MT.
“Against last year’s levels, stocks in the households decreased by 18.1 percent and those in NFA depositories by 80 percent. However, stocks in commercial warehouses went up by 36.8 percent,” said BAS.
On a monthly basis, corn inventory increased by 8.3 percent in the households. In contrast, BAS said stocks in commercial warehouses dropped by 13.1 percent. There was no change in stocks held in NFA depositories.
The stocks held by households accounted for 37.2 percent of the total corn inventory for the period. Commercial warehouses accounted for 62.7 percent while the NFA’s share was pegged at only 0.1 percent.
In Photo: Workers carry sacks of rice for storage in a warehouse.
