ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve
ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve
The ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) is a regional cooperation established under the APTERR Agreement signed by the Ministers of the Agriculture and Forestry of the ASEAN Plus Three at the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Minister on Agriculture and Forestry Plus Three (AMAF+3) on 7 October 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The APTERR was officially established itself as a permanent mechanism and also marked the official launch of the APTERR Secretariat office in Bangkok in 2013.
We are keen to strengthen food security, poverty alleviation, and malnourishment eradication among its members without distorting normal trade, while the common goal of the APTERR Parties is the assurance of food security in the ASEAN+3 region.
400 MT
300 MT
3,000 MT
Total :3,700 MT
500 MT
3,000 MT
Total :3,500 MT
322 MT
4,000 MT
Total :4,322 MT
Natural Disasters
WEEKLY UPDATE ON NATURAL DISASTERS
IN ASEAN PLUS THREE
No. 410 
19 – 25 March 2025
An eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki disrupted flights. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on the island of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia erupted on 20 March 2025 shooting 8-kilometre dark ash into the sky. The authorities raised volcano’s alert status to the highest level. Meanwhile, one person was reportedly injured during an evacuation. Also, at least seven international flights from Bali were cancelled while several other flights were delayed on 21 March 2025. The geological agency warned residents of the lava flows.
Sources: The Jakarta Post. (2025, Mar 21). Some flights to Bali cancelled as Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano erupts.
Severe floods in Malaysia’s Johor state displaced over 10,000 people. Flooding in many districts of Johor state, Malaysia forced 10,763 people to evacuate, and caused severe traffic congestion in Johor Bahru city centre on 21 March 2025. Those displaced had to shelter at different temporary flood relief centres. The Malaysian Meteorological Department issued a severe-level continuous rain warning for the state, and also the other parts of the country including Pahang and Sabah states. Later, flood evacuees in Bahru, Kluang and Kota Tinggi districts of Johor state were allowed to return home after floodwaters fully subsided, reducing the number of evacuees in the state as of 25 March 2025.
Sources: The Watchers. (2025, Mar 21). Floods in Johor force over 10 000 evacuations, Malaysia; Malaymail. (2025, Mar 25). Flood situation improves in three Johor districts.
Floods and landslides in the Philippines left one dead. Heavy rains since 19 March 2025 had triggered floodings and landslides in most part of Eastern Visayas region, the Philippines. According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), there was one death in the Llorente town, Eastern Samar province as of 25 March 2025. Besides, more than 7,500 people were displaced, and about 174,200 people across Eastern Samar, Western Samar, Northern Samar, and Leyte provinces were affected.
Sources: Reliefweb. (2025, Mar 25). Philippines - Floods and landslides, update (PAGASA, media, DSWD DROMIC) (ECHO Daily Flash of 25 March 2025).
Rice Situation
WEEKLY UPDATE ON ASEAN PLUS THREE
RICE SITUATIONS
No. 410
19 – 25 March 2025
The government targets 1 million tonnes of rice from the Central Kalimantan expansion. The Ministry of Agriculture plans to expand rice fields in Central Kalimantan by 75,000 hectares. The aim is to produce 1 million tonnes to boost national food security. According to the preliminary data, 63,222 hectares of rice fields have already been contracted, 7,541 hectares are in the contract process, and 4,273 hectares are in a preparing phase. The Minister of Agriculture expressed confidence that the programme would be beneficial for local farmers and strengthen the regional economy.
Source: Jakarta Globe. (2025, Mar 20). Government Aims for 1 Million Tons of Rice from Central Kalimantan Expansion.
Rice imports dropped almost half in the first quarter of 2025. The total of rice imports on 13 March 2025 dropped to 641,000 tonnes, which decreased from the same period of 1.2 million tonnes in 2024. According to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, the Philippines can import less in 2025 due to the expected good harvest. Besides, in 2024, the El Niño phenomenon impacted the local rice production,while the agency’s measure to stabilize rice prices, along with India’s restrictions on rice exports, led to a decline in rice imports.
Source: ABS-CBN. (2025, Mar 19). Rice imports down by almost half in first quarter.
In February 2025, rice exports dropped 31 percent. According to the Ministry of Commerce, Thai rice exports decreased by an annual 33.1 percent in February 2025. Thailand is the world's second-largest rice exporter after India. On the other hand, Thailand is expected to export 7.5 million tonnes in 2025, which decreases from 9.95 million tonnes in 2024.
Source: Bangkok Post. (2025, Mar 21). Thai February exports jump 14%, beating forecast.
Vietnam’s rice export prices are starting to show signs of recovery. According to the Vietnam Food Association, Viet Nam’s rice prices are showing signs of recovery after a prolonged period of decline. The price of 5 percent broken rice up by 2 USD per tonne, 25 percent broken rice risen by 1 USD per tonne, and 100 percent broken rice increase by 3 USD per tonne.
Source: VietnamPlus. (2025, Mar 21). Vietnam’s rice export prices show signs of recovery.
The impacts of India’s rice return to the global market affect Viet Nam temporarily. According to the Vietnam Food Association data, there is 80 percent high-quality rice out of 1.1 million tonnes of rice exports in the first two months of 2025. The industry leaders stated that the impact of India's lifting its export ban, especially focusing on lower-grade rice, will be temporary.
Source: VietnamPlus. (2025, Mar 21). Vietnam’s rice export prices show signs of recovery.
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