CROPfm Forum

Rice prices in Thailand, the world's top exporter, have surged to $US1,000 a tonne, feeding concerns about food security as far as the United States after export curbs by governments worldwide.

The surging price of food and fuel has sparked riots in Africa and Haiti and raised fears that millions of the world's poor will struggle to feed themselves. Some analysts, however, attribute much of the surge to panic buying by both consumers and governments rather than a dire shortage of supply.

The global run on food that has led to shortages and riots in Egypt, Haiti and other nations has made its way to U.S. shores.

Concerned about rising prices and limited supplies of staples such as rice and flour, customers across the country have been cleaning out the shelves at big-box retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Sam's Club and Costco Wholesale Corp. stores.

Die Krise um weltweit steigende Lebensmittelpreise hat einen neuen Höhepunkt erreicht: In Thailand kostete eine Tonne Reis am Donnerstag erstmals mehr als 1.000 Dollar.

Damit hat sich der Preis für das lebenswichtige Grundnahrungsmittel im größten Reisexportland seit Jahresbeginn fast verdreifacht. Auch an der weltgrößten Warenterminbörse in Chicago kletterte der Reispreis auf ein Rekordhoch.