MANILA: Six companies are bidding for a contract to import 500,000 metric tonnes of rice from September to November this year, the National Food Authority (NFA) said yesterday.
The six – Louis Dreyfus Commodities Asia Pte Ltd, Vietnam Southern Food Corp (Vinafood 2), Vietnam Northern Food Corp (Vinafood 1), LG International, ADM Rice Inc, and Olam International – procured bid documents at a pre-bid conference yesterday called by the NFA. The NFA has allotted a total of P10.27bn for the importation. The bids would be opened on August 27.
The Philippines earlier imported 800,000MT this year for use as buffer stock during the prevailing lean season.
The NFA has also approved the importation if necessary of another 500,000MT this year.
Importers must supply well-milled white rice harvested from January to June. The commodity must be packed in polypropylene bags with NFA markings at 50 kilogrammes each as no container shipment shall be allowed.
The first 40 percent or 200,000MT shall be delivered not later than September 30 and the other 40 percent on or before October 31. The remaining 20 percent of the total volume or 100,000MT shall be delivered no later than November 30.
The Philippine star
