Chinese officials urge citizens to refrain from hoarding grains amid concern over global supplies

Government officials in China, the world's biggest consumer and producer of rice, has called on citizens not to hoard the grain after a recent ban on new export sales by Vietnam sparked concerns over global supplies.

The country holds sufficient rice and wheat stockpiles for one year of consumption, while imports of the cereals are only about 2 per cent of domestic usage, Wei Baigang, an agriculture ministry official, said at a conference on Saturday (April 3).

"Market supplies are ample and there is no need to hoard," said Wei.

China increased supplies at regular state sales last week to 3 million tons of wheat and 1.2 million tons of rice to stabilise market prices, while the government will continue to sell corn from stockpiles after sales of nearly 3 million tons in February, said Qin Yuyun, an official with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the world, panic buying and concerns over supply chain disruptions have led several countries including Vietnam, Russia and Kazakhstan, to stop exporting some staple foods to shore up supplies at home.

Vietnam, the world's third-largest shipper, has temporarily suspended new rice exports, while Myanmar also said it may cut overseas sales to avoid domestic shortages.

China, which is also the world's top soybean importer, will closely monitor the logistical situation in Brazil, Argentina and the US, and coordinate with these suppliers to mitigate potential disruptions to shipments because of the coronavirus pandemic, Wei said.

Brazilian soybean exports to China remain normal with an increase in shipments in March, said Wei.

The Asian country is also likely to increase soybean imports from the US as part of the phase one trade deal, he said.

Soybeans are crushed into edible oil for cooking and animal feed.

BLOOMBERG