Wholesale prices of the widely consumed Emata rice variety were stable for the second consecutive month in May 2024, after increasing steadily between November 2023 and February 2024, with the arrival of freshly harvested supplies from the 2023 secondary crop, production of which is expected to increase year‑on‑year. However, prices remained about 30 percent above the high levels of the previous year, mostly due to high prices of agricultural inputs and transport costs, and conflict-related market disruptions. Strong export demand, mostly from China (mainland), contributed to keeping prices at high levels.