NFA sets tender for 190,000 MT rice imports

MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) is set to hold the tender for the import rights of 190,000 metric tons (MT) of the total volume of 500,000 MT of rice to be brought in the country this year, next week.

The NFA said in a published notice yesterday that the bidding for the import rights of the 190,000 MT of rice scheduled for March 19, is open to private firms and farmer cooperatives.

   The state grains agency said the rice imports can be brought in the country at zero tariff in exchange for service fees set at a minimum floor price of P2 per kilogram (kg) of rice or P100 per bag of 50 kg of rice.

“Each individual or importer shall be allowed to bid for a minimum volume of rice of 2,500 MT and a maximum of 10,000 MT,” the NFA said.

It said a pre-bid conference for the rice import rights will be held on March 15.

The NFA also said that all shipments must be in the country within 60 days from the importer’s receipt of notice to proceed.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said earlier the rice imports must arrive in the country by end-June or before the lean months.

Gilberto Lauengco, special assistant to the administrator of the NFA said in a telephone interview yesterday that the NFA Council at its last meeting, decided to authorize the import of 380,000 MT of rice out of the 500,000 MT volume set for this year.

“We will have the tender for 190,000 MT which is open to private firms and cooperatives first, and then we will announce the tender for another 190,000 MT for cooperatives next week,” he said.

NFA officials declined to give comments on the reason for the decision to authorize the import of just 380,000 MT of rice, as well as on the government’s plan with the balance of 120,000 MT of rice to be imported this year.

The government has set the country’s duty-free rice imports at 500,000 MT this year, lower than the 2.45 million MT shipped in 2010 and the 860,000 MT bought last year.

Half of the 500,000 MT of rice imports this year will be brought in by private firms, while the rest will be accounted for by cooperatives.

   Of the 860,000 MT of rice imports last year, 600,000 MT was brought in by private traders, 60,000 MT was accounted for by cooperatives while 200,000 MT was purchased by the government from Vietnam.