The Gazette | Supermarkets in ES limit rice purchases after floods in RS

Rice sales are being limited in some supermarkets in Espírito Santo. The restriction comes after the destruction caused by rain in Rio Grande do Sul, which is responsible for the production of 70% of the rice consumed in Brazil. Despite this measure adopted in establishments in Espírito Santo and other states, the Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of Rio Grande do Sul (Farsul) states that supply is guaranteed and ensures that there is no risk of a shortage of grain in the country.

In Greater Vitória, however, there are establishments limiting the sale of cereal. At Supermercado São José, in the Praia do Canto unit, buyers can only purchase three packages of rice, regardless of weight (1kg, 2kg or 5kg).

In Perim stores, also in Greater Vitória, sales are limited, but the company did not inform the quantity available for each customer. At Carone, in Vitória, the report found, on the morning of this Thursday (9), that sales continue normally, with no purchase limitations.

“We are observing an unusual demand. We have a stock that meets the current demand, but we limit the sale of three packages of five kilos per person so that we can serve as many customers as possible”, says commercial manager Francisco Perim.

In the Casagrande Limit chain, each customer can buy up to 10 kg of rice. The measure is valid for an indefinite period, in all units of the State.

“Due to the southern region of Brazil being a large producer of rice and the Casagrande chain always ensuring conscious sales, we decided to limit the amount of rice sold until shipments from suppliers in the south return to normal. Currently our stores have stocks supplied and we also have rice in our Distribution Center. We are in direct contact with our partners in the South, helping as much as possible and hoping for better days”, the supermarket chain announced in a statement.

The report also contacted Rede Extrabom and Supermercados BH so that the stores could clarify the current sales situation. However, the demand was not responded to.

According to the Espírito Santo Supermarket Association (Acaps), there is still no shortage of products in stores, as establishments in Espírito Santo have stocks for replacement. Still, the agency does not rule out impacts that could be caused by the rains in Rio Grande do Sul.

“The flood in Rio Grande do Sul will bring impacts not only to Espírito Santo, but to many other states, due to specific logistical difficulties related to products such as poultry and pork, which largely depend on soybeans and corn from Rio Grande do Sul. South”, informs Acaps, in a note.

Despite the limited sales in the markets, the president of the Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of Rio Grande do Sul (Farsul), Gedeão Pereira, states that the rice harvested in the state of Rio Grande do Sul guarantees Brazil’s supply. In an interview with the podcast “Where does what I eat come from”, on g1, Gedeão said that Rio Grande do Sul has rice to supply the domestic market for at least ten months.

“Perhaps there may be something missing at the end, when we already have a new harvest on the scene. Of course, we may have, due to a lack of logistics, a shortage in the very short term, but nothing more than that”, he said.

According to the Riograndense Rice Institute (Irga), around 114 thousand tons have already been lost and the damage to areas that are partially submerged still needs to be calculated. According to g1, on Wednesday (8), the Brazilian Rice Industry Association (Abiarroz) informed that it will bring 75 thousand tons of rice from Thailand to “increase supply, guarantee supply and maintain prices”.

According to the State Supply Center (Ceasa-ES), items continue to arrive, but if there is a smaller quantity of products from Rio Grande do Sul, prices may increase.

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