Some producing zones in Panama have a reduction in yields due to droughts caused by the meteorological phenomenon of "El Niño" has been detected.

According to millers less rice arrives at drying and processing plants. This situation could take to an increase of grain imports for next year.

Although the government already had agreed with producers and millers the import of 1,4 million cwt of rice is possible that this amount must be incresed next year, due to reduction of cultivated surface.

At the beginning of next year, the Ministry of Agriculture of Panama (Mida) will make an inventory to determine if market can be supplied. The rice consumption of Panama is more than 500,000 cwt per month.