Chicago Board of Trade rough rice futures ended higher on Wednesday on commercial buying of new-crop deferred contracts and a report of a slight deterioration in US rice conditions, brokers said.
Nearby CBOT July rice futures, which ended up 50 cents per hundredweight at $10.00 per cwt was very lightly traded, but boosted by a lack of offers up to the $10.00 level, brokers added.
CBOT July rough rice ends trade on July 21. Open interest in the nearby contract before Wednesday's open was only 85 contracts, they noted.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture reported late Tuesday that the US rice crop had deteriorated slightly in the past week.
The USDA rated 67 percent of the US rice crop as being in good to excellent condition as of Sunday, down one percentage point from the week before.
CBOT rice futures closed up 9 cents to 50 cents per hundredweight lower. CBOT September rice ended up 9 cents at $7.82 and November closed up 11-1/2 cents at $7.82.
There were nil deliveries against the CBOT July rough rice futures contract on Wednesday.
Cash US rice trade was reportedly quiet on Wednesday, CBOT rice traders said.
CBOT rough rice futures estimated volume on Wednesday was 402 contracts, compared with 405 lots traded on Tuesday.