Concerning the price of rice in china:


Due to the restricted nature of the international rice market (less
than 6% of global production) and to the residual character of
exchanges (producing countries produce first and foremost for their
own consumption), international prices are extremely volatile.

International market is not influenced by referential prices, or by
"Chicago Board of Trade" (CBOT) futures quotations - which have no
liquidity. There are few regular publications that indicate current
price levels.

It is still possible to have an idea of the long-term evolution of
rice prices by observing the market of Thai White Rice, 5% Broken. In
fact, this type of rice was chosen as a reference for a futures market
in Bangkok which is scheduled to open at the end of 2003.

It should be noted that there is a weak correlation between the high-
quality low-quality rice markets. They often move in the same
direction (e.g., both of them fell in 2000), however low-quality rice
prices tend to fall more. The intensity of price fluctuations depends
on specific demands for each type of rice.

In many countries, the only available prices are domestic ones which
indicate the prices that buyers are willing to pay growers.

In the case of export prices, the correlation between the different
origins is relatively high for those countries that do not interfere
or regulate prices