China Imports to Boost Rice in Lean Years, Shanghai JC Says

Rice imports by China, the world’s largest producer, may cause a shortage and spark a rally in prices in lean production years, said Li Qiang, managing director at Shanghai JC Intelligence Co.

China quadrupled imports in 2012 to become the second-largest importer, from the 18th biggest in 2011, amid record production, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Dec. 11. The country imported 2.6 million metric tons of rice in 2012, compared with 575,000 tons a year earlier, and will import 2 million tons this year, the USDA said.