TAIWAN, April 19, 2004 -- On April 9th, Taiwan partially awarded its 1st public rice tender of 2004. The tender for 8,850 tons of medium brown rice went to a U.S. supplier at NT$14,196/mt or $431/mt while the 500 ton tender for long grain milled glutinous rice went to a Thai supplier. No bidders participated in the 500-ton short grain milled glutinous rice tender that was rescheduled for April 20-21. Taiwan also announced an additional 1,000-ton long grain milled glutinous rice tender, to be held at the same time in April.

TURKEY, April 19, 2004 -- Turkish raisin production is projected to increase to 230,000 MT in MY 2004 if the weather conditions remain favorable during the rest of the growing and drying seasons. Production in MY 2003 is revised upward to 215,000 MT due to better than expected growing and drying conditions. TARIS procured about 40,000 MT of raisins in MY 2003. Estimated exports in MY 2003 remain unchanged. This is slightly lower than exports in MY 2002, which were revised upward according to the official trade data. Current export prices are around USD 1100 per MT for standard #9 quality. MY 2004 exports are projected to increase slightly parallel to the projected increase in production and lower export prices.

SOUTH AFRICA, REPUBLIC OF, April 19, 2004 -- South Africa's 2004 production of raisins is expected at a lower quality and the same amount as last year at about 36,700 MT because of more than normal rainfall at harvest. The Dried Fruit industry expects more Thompson seedless raisins because of moisture conditions that discolor sultana varieties. Total exports are expected to decline by around 20% and domestic consumption to increase by more than 35% as a result of reduced quality.

EU-15, April 19, 2004 -- This weekly report contains data on rice prices in the U.S., Thailand and the EU. It also lists current import duties and export subsidies in the EU. All information will be published as such in the USDA publication "Rice Market News".

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, April 19, 2004 -- This report contains supporting tables

CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, April 19, 2004 -- This report forecasts MY04/05 total soybean imports to reach 25 MMT and the preliminary estimate of soybean imports for MY03/04 is 22 MMT. High soybean prices, high freight rates and, to a lesser extent, the current problems caused by avian influenza, will limit imports in the near term. Longer term, however, limited land, a strong economy,