RPT-Asia Rice-Drought threatens Thai crop, Bangladesh braces for cold wave

(Repeats Thursday's story with no changes to the text)
* Thailand's drought could extend into June- authorities
* Vietnam rice rates dip to $355/oz
* India prices steady, demand from African countries weak

By Karthika Suresh Namboothiri
BENGALURU, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Rice export prices in major
Asian hubs held steady this week but a multi-month drought drove
expectations of a rise in Thai rates, while a cold snap
threatened crops in Bangladesh.
Thailand's benchmark 5 percent broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1
prices were quoted at $425-$435 on Thursday, largely unchanged
from two weeks earlier, but was still the highest level since
June 2018.
Although demand was flat, prices for the Thai grade, which
were consistently trading higher than the Vietnamese variety
throughout 2019, remained high well into 2020 due to the drought
threatening supply and the continuous appreciation of the baht,
traders said.
Thailand's dry season started in November and usually lasts
through April, although authorities said it could go on through
June this year. A drought has been declared in 14 provinces in
the central, northern and northeastern farming regions.
In top producer India, rice export prices remained steady
due to weak demand from African countries.
Prices of the 5 percent broken parboiled variety
RI-INBKN5-P1 were unchanged from last week, around
$362-$366 per tonne.
"Exports demand is subdued. Supplies are rising from the
summer-sown crop," said an exporter based in Kakinada in the
southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Neighbouring Bangladesh braced for a cold wave, which could
have an impact on crops, including rice, said Mizanur Rahman, a
senior official at the agricultural ministry.
"The seedbeds of rice have dried out due to extreme cold,"
Rahman said, adding a prolonged cold spell would have
devastating effects on the crop.
The weather office said the cold snap, accompanied by chilly
winds and drizzling, was likely to continue for a few more days.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 eased to
$355 a tonne on Thursday, from $360 a week earlier.
"Demand remains weak this week and trade has been very
slow," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said.
Preliminary shipping data showed 138,650 tonnes of rice is
to be loaded at Ho Chi Minh City port between Jan. 1 and Jan.
23, with most of the grain bound for Iraq and West Africa.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade this week added 47
companies to a list of eligible rice exporters, raising the
number of licensed Vietnamese exporters to 182, a government
statement said.
The move is aimed at "facilitating rice exports, promoting
rice production in a sustainable manner and enhancing the
competitiveness of Vietnamese rice," the statement added.