High-grade Pawsan rice varieties from delta region slides

The prices of Pawsan rice from the delta region were down by K4,000 per bag on 12 October 2022 compared to those in the previous days, Ko Tint, a rice trader from Padauk lane of the Bayintnaung Wholesale Market, told the Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM).
The prices of Pawsan rice from the Shwebo area stood at K80,000-90,000 per bag while the Pawsan rice from Myaungmya and Pathein areas fetched K62,000-65,000 per bag and the prices of Pawsan rice variety from Pyapon and Bogale were K58,000-60,000 per bag in the second week of October in the wholesale market.
In late September, the prices of Pawsan rice from Myaungmya and Pathein areas were K68,000-70,000 per bag in the wholesale market, whereas Pawsan rice from Pyapon was priced at K62,000-64,000 per bag.
The retail price of Pawsan rice from the Mawgyun area stands at K59,000-61,000 these days on the vessels at Yangon Port, Ko Shein, a trader said.
The monsoon paddy is starting to be harvested in some places. The dealers directly come and purchase at the field. The paddy is transacted around K1 million per 100-baskets depending on the moisture content.
The price of paddy varies depending on the moisture content in the paddy. Pawsan paddy has a low content of moisture rather than some low-grade monsoon paddy as Pawsan paddy is harvested under favourable weather conditions.
The paddy with 13 per cent of content can last up to two years, while those with 14 per cent, to one year and the paddy with 15 per cent to six months. The paddy with 23 per cent can last only one day. If the paddy has a moisture content above 24 per cent, it must be dried within ten hours, said Ko Saung Lat, a rice miller. Some buyers offer below the market order because of the moisture content.
New Pawsan rice varieties will enter the Delta region at the end of Tazaungmone month (November).
Therefore, old Pawsan stocks can be sold without market competition within one month. In mid-2022, the prices of high-grade Pawsan rice varieties including popular ones from the Shwebo area were volatile in the Yangon market, sparking consumers’ concern. Therefore, the majority of consumers keep the stocks in their hands.
Therefore, the demand decreased significantly this month. The prices of Pawsan rice went down accordingly. However, the prices of the Pawsan rice variety are still not lower than those in the corresponding period last year.
The prices of rice vary depending on the quality. Some wholesalers sell the rice by demonstrating the cooked rice, Ko Win, a rice trader, told the GNLM.
The door-to-door retail price of rice was K4,000-5,000 higher than the wholesale prices, the GNLM quoted Ko Khin Myint, a buyer from Tamway Township, as saying.
At the end of 2021, the new Pawsan rice varieties from the delta region was priced at K45,000 from the Myaungmya area and K43,000 from the Shwebo area. The wholesale prices rocketed to K92,000 for Shwebo Pawsan and K70,000 for Myaungmya Pawsan in 2022.
That being so, the price of new monsoon rice (low-grade) is expected to go higher than the price recorded in 2021 for sure, Ko Than Myint, a rice miller, told the GNLM. Those buyers who keep the rice stocks in hand for a year primarily purchase rice in March and April periods.—TWA/GNLM