Rice prices surge, but restaurant operators see limited impact for now

A SURGE in the prices of some varieties of rice could have a wider-ranging impact on food costs, analysts have warned. For now, however, restaurant operators in Singapore are saying that the impact on their supply costs is limited.

Listed restaurant operators who spoke to The Business Times said the sources of their rice supply have been largely unaffected by a jump in the prices of Thai white rice as well as India’s export ban of non-Basmati white rice – the South Asian giant’s largest rice export category.

Catalist-listed Japan Foods Holding said it primarily uses short-grain rice from Japan and is therefore not particularly affected by the increase in rice prices.