Today's Date:   Monday February 04, 2013

1. GRAIN & OILSEED ISSUES

Per capita rice consumption hits all-time low in 2012: data[English, BYY]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2013/01/31/0200000000AEN20130131002600320.HTML

SEJONG, Jan. 31 (Yonhap) -- Per capita rice consumption in South Korea hit a record low in 2012 as people tended to consume more instant foods and other alternative diets instead of the country's staple grain, data showed Thursday.The average annual consumption of rice per person fell to 69.8 kilograms last year, down 2 percent from the previous year's 71.2 kilograms, according to the data by Statistics Korea.

2. MARKETING ISSUES

E Mart Reports 13.8 Percent Sales Decline in January 2013 … Aggressive Sales Promotions are Planned in February to Draw Consumers Back [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/3/all/20130203/52789040/1

Summary: E Mart, the leading discount grocery retail chain in Korea, reported that its sales in January 2013 declined by 13.8 percent compared to the same period last year.  Large-scale retail chains, including E Mart, have planned aggressive sales promotions in February in an effort to boost sales.