Poor quality rice mills limit exports to China
Only the IDP Rice Mill in Savannakhet province is able to produce rice of sufficient quality to meet the standard required by Chinese buyers. There are many rice mills around the country but they are inefficient and the finished product is of low quality. Based on a nationwide survey, only the IDP Rice Mill in Savannakhet has been able to meet Chinese standards. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Bounkhouang Khambounheuang, told Vientiane Times on September 23 that Laos began selling rice to China last year. So far, about 3,700 tonnes of sticky rice and nonglutinous rice have been shipped. The Xuanye Company of China received an import quota from the Chinese government to buy rice from Laos, he said. Last year Xuanye was authorised by the Chinese government to import 8,000 tonnes of rice from Laos and this year has ordered 7,200 tonnes. An official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said the rice grown in Laos had pure white grains, was soft and had a pleasant aroma.
