Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said today that the auction of 15,000 tonnes of decade-old pledging scheme rice may be scrapped if a deal cannot be concluded with the remaining bidders.
Three of the six bidders, namely V8 Intertrading, Tanasan Rice and SSMR Karn Kaset, have been disqualified, after the Qualifications Committee discovered that they did not meet the requirements.
V8 Intertrading offered the highest bid, at 19.070 baht/kg, for the rice stored at the Poonphol Trading warehouse, followed by 18.019 baht/kg offered by Tanasan Rice, for rice at the same facility and 18.001 baht/kg for rice at the Kittichai warehouse. 16.710 baht/kg was offered by SSMR Karnkaset, 12.208 baht/kg was offered by Sup Saeng Thong Rice, 18.69 baht/kg was offered by Sahathan and 16 baht/kg was offered by BNK Agriculture.
Phumtham said that, following the disqualifications, the three remaining companies will be invited for negotiations, adding that it will depend on the negotiating skills of Public Warehouse Organisation officials as to whether a deal can be concluded.
If not, he said the auction would be scrapped.
