FIFA Secretary General Urs Linsi, left, and German referee Markus Merk pose with the official World Cup soccer ball prior to a news conference in Neu Isenburg, near Frankfurt, central Germany, Tuesday, March 21, 2006 on occasion of a five-day training program for the referees of the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)



American rice imports through Busan harbor

American rice, Calros, will be imported through Busan harbor on March 23. According to the Korean Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation on March 22, Hanjin ship Baltimore departed Long Beach harbor in America on March 9 and is supposed to dock in Busan Gamman harbor on March 22.

Calros, a first grade American rice, has been used as one of the main ingredients for rice-based biscuits in China and Vietnam. The imported rice will be distributed to the nation through Busan harbor, and it is supposed to amount to 57,000 tons this year. A source says that American rice imports will increase as time goes on.

The rice will be in custody in I-Chon, Kyunggi-Do during domestic rice inspections and approval procedures, then distributed to the nation through public auctions. Some of the packed rice will be sold in department stores, discount stores and supermarkets by 10 kg and 20 kg bags. A source says the price of the first grade rice, Calros, will be set by the price norm of domestic first grade rice. On the basis of domestic rice prices, it can be priced at 42,000 won for a 20 kg bag.

Regarding the sales prospect of Calros, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Korean Agro-Fisheries Trade Corporation take prudent positions, saying, “It is hard to guess about it. It might take time.” An expert says that since Calros is imported at a quarter of the price compared to domestic rice, in the event the amount of imported rice in the nation is over 10,000 tons, it is anticipated that the imported rice prices will be down a little.

As the rice import date is approaching, several strikes by civic groups against Calros imports are expected, including agriculture-related civic groups. Kang Sun Ja, a member of the Busan Farmer Association, said, “We will continually demonstrate to prevent rice imports.”
/ 입력시간: 2006. 03.23. 08:53