BAS notes slight rise in palay prices

MANILA, Philippines - Farmgate prices of palay (unhushed rice) rose while those of yellow and white corn fell in the third week of January, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS). 

In a report released during the weekend, BAS said the average price of palay from Jan. 15 to 21 rose 0.50 percent to P18.49 per kilogram from the previous week and 13.55 percent from last year. 

The farmgate price of yellow corn grain at P12.01 per kilogram during the reference week fell 0.63 percent from the previous week and 2.74 percent from the same period last year. 

Farmgate prices of white corn grain at P14.81 per kilogram fell by 2.08 percent from last week and 8.14 percent from last week’s quotation.

Yellow corn grain is primarily used as a component of animal feed while white corn it consumed as an alternative food staple.  

Upward movements in the prices of both wholesale and retail prices of well-milled rice  was seen during the reference week. 

The average wholesale price of well-milled rice at P37.28 per kilogram was higher 1.07 percent from the previous week’s price. Year-on-year, this was higher by 13.72 percent. 

The average retail price of well-milled rice rose 0.92 percent to P39.76 per kilogram week-on-week. Year-on-year, prices rose by 12.82 percent. 

Wholesale and retail prices of regular-milled rice also rose week-on-week and year-on-year. 

The average wholesale price of regular rice rose by 0.52 percent to P34.55 per kilogram week-on-week. This was up by 15.92 percent from P29.81 per kilogram in the same period last year.

The retail price of regular-milled rice at P36.46 per kilogram was up by 0.05 percent week-on-week and by 13.85 percent from the same period last year. 

Wholesale and retail prices of yellow corngrain rose week-on-week. 

The average wholesale price at P16.47 per kilogram rose by 1.48 percent from the previous week and by 3.29 percent from the same period last year.