Tapioca bidding high
The results of the Commerce Ministry's tapioca-chip bidding should benefit the government as the prices offered yesterday were higher than median prices, said caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Preecha Laohapongchana.
Ten bidders offered prices between US$102.50 (Bt3,915) and $111.50 per tonne, while the median prices are $104 to $106. However, the ministry will not announce the winners until price negotiations are concluded with qualified bidders. Preecha said the ministry would only allow firms who have a clean background and have never been on its collusion blacklist. Bidders showed a high interest in the government's stock of 389,438 tonnes of tapioca chips from its pledging programme for the 2005/2006 harvest season. "The ministry expects to release the whole stock for exporters, to clear warehouse space for the next pledging programme," the minister said. He added that the bidding had been successful because of the current high demand for Thai tapioca in overseas markets. Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation
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