There is speculation that rice prices will increase due a smaller crop in India, the world’s largest exporter, and the impacts of El Niño. That is not currently reflected in futures prices, which have fallen 18 percent from their high at the beginning of the year. India’s rice stocks have declined 8.5 percent from 2022/23 levels, but the government has increased the minimum purchase price and that will incentivize more production. At the same time, global wheat ending stocks are rising, including a 47 percent increase in India’s wheat carryover.  Although rice may carry a preference in Asia, wheat demand has been growing much faster than rice demand. It has nutritional advantages over traditional white rice su...

TAGS – Wheat, Softs, India