Rice imports through May 75% over all imports in 2011

In the first five moths of 2012, paddy and white rice imports have exceeded the purchases in the last five years.

According to data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), 438,420 tons of rice entered the country until May, a rise of 75.61%  compared to 249,440 tons imported in 2011.

Rice imports come mainly from the United States. In 2011, the United States exported to Venezuela 99,973 tons of this item, whereas in the first five months of this year it sent 234,110 tons. The difference is 134% more than last year.

Argentina appears as Venezuela's rice second supplier. This year, Venezuela has imported 99,566 tons of rice from Argentina, 81.5% more than in 2011.

This year, Guyana stands as the third country to which Venezuela has bought more rice.

According to the INE data on foreign trade, Guyana exported 71,366 tons of rice until May. The volume exceeds 213 times all the purchases of last year.

From the member countries of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur), paddy rice imports stood at 124,388 tons, in addition to 8,228 tons of white rice.

The level of indebtedness of the farmers prevented the rise of the sowing area and the rice domestic production in the winter cycle was lower than the production of 2011 during the same period.