The government's latest rice sales plan remains active, with 30 interested bidders yesterday submitting their intentions to buy two big batches of rice stocks amounting to 3.81 million tonnes.
According to Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, 23 interested bidders filed bidding prices for a combined 976,291 tonnes from 78 state warehouses worth 5.65 billion baht, while seven rice traders and exporters who have secured purchase orders from foreign countries submitted their own bidding prices.
The amount of rice for those who have secured orders from foreign countries was not available.
The department earlier this month called for bids on 1.63 million tonnes of rice, including 730,000 tonnes slated for general use, including a mix of Grade C, which is categorised as substandard quality for industrial use; Grade P, which has received ministry certification; and Grades A and B, meaning in slightly poor condition and in need of sorting for improvement.
The remaining 900,000 tonnes would be substandard rice designated for industrial use, up from the 400,000 tonnes announced by the department earlier this month.
Interested bidders are required to purchase the entire contents of each warehouse storing the rice and give clear details on where they intend to resell the stock.
The state-run Public Warehouse Organisation and the Marketing Organisation for Farmers would be tasked with tracking the rice shipments' movements up until they reach their final destinations.
The Foreign Trade Department invited interested buyers to file bidding prices yesterday. Winners will be announced on July 28.
Taking into account the 2.18 million tonnes the government plans to sell directly to domestic rice traders and exporters who have secured purchase orders from foreign countries, the additional 1.63 million tonnes will bring total planned state rice sales this month to 3.81 million tonnes.
In a related development, the government vows to cut export procedures for rice, sugar, rubber and frozen products to expedite the shipments.
Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said the ministry in charge of rice exports has pledged to cut export procedures for rice to only four days from the current 24.