Lao People's Democratic Republic
Lao People's Democratic Republic - 2.7 Milling Assessment
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Milling Assessment 

Rice serves as the central component of the agricultural system in Laos, contributing to more than 90% of the overall crop production. In the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), the process of rice milling is predominantly carried out at the village level and in small-scale mills. These mills are characterized by inadequate equipment and possess an average capacity of approximately 6 metric tons of paddy per day. Although precise statistics are lacking, it is likely that these mills are responsible for around 90% of the rice milling operations conducted throughout the nation. 

A common practice among Lao farmers is the storage of rice paddy on their private land, serving as a dual purpose of sustenance and asset preservation. When farmers engage in the sale of their rice, it is customary for them to do so by either directly transacting with rice mills or intermediaries. According to estimates, the number of rice mills in Laos exceeds 20,000. However, the bulk of these establishments are characterized by their modest scale and restricted production capacity. A number of prominent rice mills are currently undertaking initiatives aimed at enhancing rice yields and improving rice quality within the primary rice cultivation areas. 

Rice millers have a choice of three different ways of operating and often combine two or three: 

  • Custom milling: Farmers or small traders bring their paddy to the mill. If the miller keeps the bran, there is no charge for milling. This is a common practice. The bran is sold to poultry and pig farmers or to small traders who bring their paddy to the mill. Otherwise, there is a milling fee. Custom milling is usually done by small and medium size mills; 

  • Commercial milling: The miller buys paddy and sells rice directly to the market retailers of through intermediary traders. Millers have the requisite storage capacity and financial resources may store paddy up to 10 months to take advantage of higher prices in August and September, preceding the new harvest. 

  • Contract milling: For Government institutes, for the provincial Departments of Commerce, for the SEFCP, and sometimes for international organizations such as WFP. 

Rice millers in the Vientiane area often buy paddy at lower prices from Khammouan and Savannakhet. Village mills and the small District mills tend to be very busy during May and June just after the harvest of dry season paddy and during November and December following the main wet season harvest. Other millers, especially larger capacity mills, store paddy and mill during the rainy season. 

 

For more information on milling company contact details, please see the following link: 4.6 Storage and Milling Companies Contact List. 

Somphone Rice Mill  

Company Name and Address 

Contact Names and  Email 

Telephone and  Fax 

Huakua Village, Naxaythong District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR 

Name: Somephone Bountavong 

Title: Director 

Email: Somephone.ricemill@gmail.com 

Web: N/A 

Tel:(856)20 95639595, 5514433, 22417535 

Fax: (856)20 21      650444 

Summary of Role and Services 

Selling and milling rice 

 

Facilities 

Parking Area Inside Compound (m²) 

10,000 m2 

Drainage 

Good  

Fire Fighting Equipment 

Number of Ventilators (screened) 

n/a 

Electricity Load (KVA) 

n/a 

Backup Generator(s) 

No 

 

 

Milling Equipment 

Origin of Machinery 

Year of Mfg 

Year of Installation 

Condition 

China 

2018 

2018 

good 

 

Maintenance 

Duration 

5-6 months 

Type of Maintenance 

Condition-based maintenance 

 

Other Equipment or Machinery Installed 

Type of Equipment 

Available 

Number 

Owned 

Comments 

Fortification Feeder 

No 

 

 

 

Bag Cleaning Plant 

No 

 

 

 

Moisture Tester 

Yes  

 

 

De-stoning Plant 

Yes 

 

 

Metal Extractor 

Yes 

 

 

 

Staffing 

Number of Full Time Skilled Workers 

Number of Full Time Labourers 

 

Weighbridge 

Number 

Capacity (MT) 

Length (m) 

Type 

Within Compound 

100 

18 

Above ground weighbridge 

Within Compound 

 

 

 

 

Building 

 

Length (m) 

Width (m) 

Height (m) 

Building – RICE Mill 

60 

25 

Walls 

Good 

Roof 

Good 

Floor 

Good 

 

Conditions & Cleanliness 

   

Outside 

Inside 

Cracks in Walls or Roof  

No   

No   

Signs of Rodent Activity  

No   

No   

Signs of Birds Entry  

No   

No   

Damaged Gutters/Drains 

No   

No   

Signs of Moisture  

No   

No   

Adjacent Vegetation 

No   

No   

Cleanliness 

Good 

Good 

 

Pest Control 

Fumigation 

No   

Frequency 

Store paddy rice and mill as per request so no fumigation 

Contracted 

No   

Spraying  

No   

Frequency 

Store paddy rice and mill as per request so no fumigation 

Contracted 

No   

Rodenticides  

No   

Frequency 

n/a 

Contracted 

No   

Rodent Trapping 

No   

Frequency 

n/a 

Contracted 

No   

 

Security  

Security  

Good  

Compound  

Fenced  

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Access 

Distance from Main Town (km) 

17 km 

Travel Time if not Located in Town (hours) 

0.5 hours 

Road Condition to Mill 

Good 

Road Limitations (if any) 

Maximum 4 m width and maximum 50 Tonnage 

Rail Connections 

No 

On the Railway From 

No 

To 

No 

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Milling Capacity  

Commodities 

Daily Capacity (MT) 

Monthly Activity (MT) 

Rice 

30  

900 

 

Storage Capacity 

Storage in Metric Tons 

Rice – Covered (MT) 

Flour – Covered (MT) 

Within the Compound 

1,000 

No 

Outside the Compound 

No 

No 

 

Capacity to Blend 

No 

 

Loading & Discharge Rates 

200 mt/day 

 

Transport Capacity at Mill 

200 mt/day 

 

Additional Notes 

n/a 

 

Southath Rice Mill  

Company Name and Address 

Contact Names and  Email 

Telephone and  Fax 

Donennoon Village, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR 

Name: Southath Keodouangsy 

Title: Director 

Email: Southath.rice.mill@gmail.com 

Web: N/A 

Tel: (856)20 55520382, 20 55654846 

Fax: (856) 21 771109 

Summary of Role and Services 

Selling and milling rice 

 

Facilities 

Parking Area Inside Compound (m²) 

1600 m2 

Drainage 

Good  

Fire Fighting Equipment 

12 units 

Number of Ventilators (screened) 

6 units 

Electricity Load (KVA) 

800 KVA, 160 KVA 

Backup Generator(s) 

No 

n/a 

 

 

Milling Equipment 

Origin of Machinery 

Year of Mfg 

Year of Installation 

Condition 

China 

2017 

2018 

good 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance 

Duration 

15 days/time 

Type of Maintenance 

Preventive maintenance 

 

Other Equipment or Machinery Installed 

Type of Equipment 

Available 

Number 

Owned 

Comments 

Fortification Feeder 

Yes  

Yes 

 

Bag Cleaning Plant 

Yes  

Yes 

 

Moisture Tester 

Yes  

Yes 

 

De-stoning Plant 

Yes  

Yes 

 

Metal Extractor 

Yes  

Yes 

 

 

Staffing 

Number of Full Time Skilled Workers 

Number of Full Time Labourers 

35 

 

Weighbridge 

Number 

Capacity (MT) 

Length (m) 

Type 

Within Compound 

120 

18 

Above ground weighbridge 

Within Compound 

 

 

 

 

Building 

 

Length (m) 

Width (m) 

Height (m) 

Building – Rice Mill 

64 

28 

11 

60 

25 

10 

40 

23 

40 

40 

Building – Maize Mill 

n/a 

n/a 

 

n/a 

Walls 

Good 

Roof 

Good 

Floor 

Good 

 

Conditions & Cleanliness 

   

Outside 

Inside 

Cracks in Walls or Roof  

No   

No   

Signs of Rodent Activity  

Yes   

Yes   

Signs of Birds Entry  

No   

No   

Damaged Gutters/Drains 

No   

No   

Signs of Moisture  

No   

No   

Adjacent Vegetation 

No   

No 

Cleanliness 

Good  

Good  

 

Pest Control 

Fumigation 

No   

Frequency 

Store paddy rice and mill as per request so no fumigation 

Contracted 

 No 

Spraying  

No   

Frequency 

Store paddy rice and mill as per request so no fumigation 

Contracted 

No 

Rodenticides  

Yes   

Frequency 

Monthly  

Contracted 

No   

Rodent Trapping 

Yes   

Frequency 

Monthly  

Contracted 

No   

 

Security  

Security  

Good  

Compound  

Fenced  

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Access 

Distance from Main Town (km) 

12 km  

Travel Time if not Located in Town (hours) 

0.5 hr 

Road Condition to Mill 

good 

Road Limitations (if any) 

Maximum 6 m Width and Max. 50 Tonnage 

Rail Connections 

No 

On the Railway From 

No 

To 

No 

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Milling Capacity  

Commodities 

Daily Capacity (MT) 

Monthly Activity (MT) 

Rice 

28 MT 

840 MT 

 

Storage Capacity 

Storage in Metric Tons 

Rice – Covered (MT) 

Flour – Covered (MT) 

Within the Compound 

10 000 MT 

No 

Outside the Compound 

No 

No 

 

Capacity to Blend 

No 

 

Loading & Discharge Rates 

100 MT/day 

 

Transport Capacity at Mill 

100 MT/day 

 

Additional Notes 

n/a 

 

SOMSAI TRADING IMPORT-EXPORT SOLE CO., LTD 

Company Name and Address 

Contact Names and  Email 

Telephone and  Fax 

Thangon Village, Xaythany Dictrict, Vientiane Province, Lao PDR 

Name: Somxai Xanonty 

Title: Owner 

Email: xxsomxaixanonty@gmail.com 

Web: N/A 

Tel: (856) 20 58858855 

Fax: N/A 

Summary of Role and Services 

Selling and milling rice 

 

Facilities 

Parking Area Inside Compound (m²) 

1500 m2 

Drainage 

Good  

Fire Fighting Equipment 

3 units 

Number of Ventilators (screened) 

n/a 

Electricity Load (KVA) 

N/A 

Backup Generator(s) 

No 

 

 

Milling Equipment 

Origin of Machinery 

Year of Mfg 

Year of Installation 

Condition 

Thailand 

N/A 

N/A 

Good 

Thailand 

N/A 

N/A 

Good 

 

Maintenance 

Duration 

Monthly 

Type of Maintenance 

Condition-based maintenances 

 

Other Equipment or Machinery Installed 

Type of Equipment 

Available 

Number 

Owned 

Comments 

Fortification Feeder 

No 

 

 

 

Bag Cleaning Plant 

No 

 

 

 

Moisture Tester 

Yes  

Yes 

 

De-stoning Plant 

Yes  

Yes 

 

Metal Extractor 

Yes  

Yes 

 

 

Staffing 

Number of Full Time Skilled Workers 

Number of Full Time Labourers 

 

Weighbridge 

Number 

N/A 

Capacity (MT) 

Length (m) 

Type 

Within Compound 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

 

Building 

 

Length (m) 

Width (m) 

Height (m) 

Building – Rice Mill 

50 

10 

Building – Ruce Mill 

35 

20 

10 

Walls 

Good 

Roof 

Good 

Floor 

Good 

 

Conditions & Cleanliness 

   

Outside 

Inside 

Cracks in Walls or Roof  

No   

No   

Signs of Rodent Activity  

No   

No   

Signs of Birds Entry  

No   

No   

Damaged Gutters/Drains 

No   

No   

Signs of Moisture  

No   

No   

Adjacent Vegetation 

No   

No   

Cleanliness 

Good 

Good 

 

Pest Control 

Fumigation 

No   

Frequency 

Store paddy rice and mill as per request so no fumigation 

Contracted 

No 

Spraying  

No   

Frequency 

Store paddy rice and mill as per request so no fumigation 

Contracted 

No   

Rodenticides  

No   

Frequency 

n/a 

Contracted 

No   

Rodent Trapping 

No   

Frequency 

n/a 

Contracted 

No   

 

Security  

Security  

Good  

Compound  

Fenced  

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Access 

Distance from Main Town (km) 

24 Km 

Travel Time if not Located in Town (hours) 

0.6 hours 

Road Condition to Mill 

Good 

Road Limitations (if any) 

Maximum 5 m Width and Max. 50 Tonnage 

Rail Connections 

No 

On the Railway From 

No 

To 

No 

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Milling Capacity  

Commodities 

Daily Capacity (MT) 

Monthly Activity (MT) 

Rice 

6 MT 

180 MT 

 

Storage Capacity 

Storage in Metric Tons 

Rice – Covered (MT) 

Flour – Covered (MT) 

Within the Compound 

1000 MT 

N/A 

Outside the Compound 

N/A 

N/A 

 

Capacity to Blend 

N/A 

 

Loading & Discharge Rates 

300 MT/day 

 

Transport Capacity at Mill 

300 MT/day 

 

Additional Notes 

N/A 

 

 

Milling Company Thamphouphuang  

Company Name and Address 

Contact Names and  Email 

Telephone and  Fax 

Phouthamphoung Village, Lakonepheng District,Saravan Province, Lao PDR 

Name: Mr. Bounma Mounlavong 

Title: Director 

Email: n/a 

Web: n/a 

Tel: 

(856) 20 22276902    

(856) 20 56939669 

Fax: n/a 

Summary of Role and Services 

Selling and milling rice 

 

Facilities 

Parking Area Inside Compound (m²) 

18.000 m2   

Drainage 

Good  

Fire Fighting Equipment 

 

Number of Ventilators (screened) 

n/a    

Electricity Load (KVA) 

500 kVA 

Backup Generator(s) 

yes 

4pce 

 

Milling Equipment 

Origin of Machinery 

Year of Mfg 

Year of Installation 

Condition 

Thai 

2013 

2013 

good 

 

Maintenance 

Duration 

3-6months  

Type of Maintenance 

Condition-based maintenance 

 

Other Equipment or Machinery Installed 

Type of Equipment 

Available 

Number 

Owned 

Comments 

Fortification Feeder 

 No 

no 

yes 

 

Bag Cleaning Plant 

No 

no 

Yes 

 

Moisture Tester 

Yes  

Yes 

 

De-stoning Plant 

Yes  

Yes 

 

Metal Extractor 

Yes  

Yes 

 

 

Staffing 

Number of Full Time Skilled Workers 

20 

Number of Full Time Labourers 

10 peoples overs/time 

 

Weighbridge 

Number 

Capacity (MT) 

Length (m) 

Type 

Within Compound 

160 

9m 

 

Within Compound 

n/a 

n/a 

 

 

Building 

 

Length (m) 

Width (m) 

Height (m) 

Building – Wheat Mill 

150 

50 

12 

Building – Maize Mill 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

Walls 

Good 

Roof 

Good 

Floor 

Good 

 

Conditions & Cleanliness 

   

Outside 

Inside 

Cracks in Walls or Roof  

No   

No   

Signs of Rodent Activity  

No 

No   

Signs of Birds Entry  

No   

No   

Damaged Gutters/Drains 

No   

No   

Signs of Moisture  

No   

No   

Adjacent Vegetation 

No   

No   

Cleanliness 

Good 

Good 

 

Pest Control 

Fumigation 

No  

Frequency 

     

Contracted 

No   

Spraying  

No  

Frequency 

 

Contracted 

No   

Rodenticides  

No   

Frequency 

 

Contracted 

No   

Rodent Trapping 

No   

Frequency 

 

Contracted 

No   

 

Security  

Security  

Good 

Compound  

Fenced  

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Access 

Distance from Main Town (km) 

10km 

Travel Time if not Located in Town (hours) 

1h 

Road Condition to Mill 

Good 

Road Limitations (if any) 

n/a 

Rail Connections 

     No 

On the Railway From 

No 

To 

No 

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Milling Capacity  

Commodities 

Daily Capacity (MT) 

Monthly Activity (MT) 

RICE 

60 MT 

n/a 

Maize 

n/a 

n/a 

 

Storage Capacity 

Storage in Metric Tons 

Rice – Covered (MT) 

Flour – Covered (MT) 

Within the Compound 

1,000 MT 

n/a 

Outside the Compound 

no 

n/a 

 

Capacity to Blend 

 N/A 

 

Loading & Discharge Rates 

50 MT/Day 

 

Transport Capacity at Mill 

50 MT/Day 

 

Additional Notes 

n/a 

 

Milling Company Saiboua rice mill  

Company Name and Address 

Contact Names and  Email 

Telephone and  Fax 

Saybua Rice Mill 

 

Ban Nonghang, Thakhek, Khammaun Province, Road, Thakhet, Laos 

 

Name: Mr. Bounyong  

Title: manager  

Email: bounyongc0306@gmail.com  

Web: n/a 

Tel:02091083004 

Fax:n/a 

Summary of Role and Services 

Rice selling and milling 

 

Facilities 

Parking Area Inside Compound (m²) 

500 Ton 

Drainage 

Good / Fair / Poor / Non Existent 

Fire Fighting Equipment 

2  

Number of Ventilators (screened) 

4/4 

Electricity Load (KVA) 

300 Am 

Backup Generator(s) 

Yes / No 

List capacity of each backup generator in KVA  

 

Milling Equipment 

Origin of Machinery 

Year of Mfg 

Year of Installation 

Condition 

Thai and China 

2014 

2016 

Good condition 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance 

Duration 

 

3 months/time 

Type of Maintenance 

Basic maintenances 

 

Other Equipment or Machinery Installed 

Type of Equipment 

Available 

Number 

Owned 

Comments 

Fortification Feeder 

Yes / No 

No 

No 

 

Bag Cleaning Plant 

Yes / No 

20.000 

Owned 

 

Moisture Tester 

Yes / No 

Owned 

 

De-stoning Plant 

Yes / No 

Owned 

 

Metal Extractor 

Yes / No 

Owned 

 

 

Staffing 

Number of Full Time Skilled Workers 

Number of Full Time Labourers 

 

Weighbridge 

Number 

 

Capacity (MT) 

Length (m) 

Type 

Within Compound 

80 

9.40cm  

12tyr 

Within Compound 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

 

Building 

 

Length (m) 

Width (m) 

Height (m) 

Building – Rice Mill 

49 

31 

12 

Building – Maize Mill 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

Walls 

good 

Roof 

good 

Floor 

good 

 

Conditions & Cleanliness 

   

Outside 

Inside 

Cracks in Walls or Roof  

Yes / No   

Yes / No   

Signs of Rodent Activity  

Yes / No   

Yes / No   

Signs of Birds Entry  

Yes / No   

Yes / No   

Damaged Gutters/Drains 

Yes / No   

Yes / No   

Signs of Moisture  

Yes / No   

Yes / No   

Adjacent Vegetation 

Yes / No   

Yes / No   

Cleanliness 

Good / Poor 

Good / Poor 

 

Pest Control 

Fumigation 

Yes / No   

Frequency 

Weekly / Monthly / Yearly 

Contracted 

Yes / No   

Spraying  

Yes / No   

Frequency 

Weekly / Monthly / Yearly 

Contracted 

Yes / No   

Rodenticides  

Yes / No   

Frequency 

Weekly / Monthly / Yearly 

Contracted 

Yes / No   

Rodent Trapping 

Yes / No   

Frequency 

Weekly / Monthly / Yearly 

Contracted 

Yes / No   

 

Security  

Security  

Good security 

Compound  

Fenced / Not Fenced 

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Access 

Distance from Main Town (km) 

30  

Travel Time if not Located in Town (hours) 

Road Condition to Mill 

good 

Road Limitations (if any) 

Maximum Width and Max. Tonnage 

Rail Connections 

Yes / No 

On the Railway From 

n/a 

To 

n/a 

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Milling Capacity  

Commodities 

Daily Capacity (MT) 

Monthly Activity (MT) 

White Rice 

15  

300 

Maize 

n/a 

n/a 

 

Storage Capacity 

Storage in Metric Tons 

Wheat – Covered (MT) 

Flour – Covered (MT) 

Within the Compound 

500mt 

n/a 

Outside the Compound 

               n/a 

n/a 

 

Capacity to Blend 

12 ton/day 

 

Loading & Discharge Rates 

120mt/day 

 

Transport Capacity at Mill 

120mt /days 

 

Additional Notes 

Planning to build a warehouse size: 30m*40m*60m  

Planning to buy a machine for bending 

 

Milling Company Indochina Development Partners Lao Sole Ltd (IDP)  

Company Name and Address 

Contact Names and  Email 

Telephone and  Fax 

Indochina Development Partner Lao Sole Ltd 

Address: Sanamxay Village, Pakse City, Champasak Province, Lao PDR 

Name: Mr. Frederic Jullien  

Title: director 

Email: info@idpltd.net 

Web: https://www.idp-laos.com/contact/ 

Tel: (856) 21 214 857 

Fax: n/a 

Summary of Role and Services 

Rice and milling 

 

Facilities 

Parking Area Inside Compound (m²) 

200 m² 

Drainage 

Good / Fair / Poor / Non-Existent 

Fire Fighting Equipment 

Yes, 10 

Number of Ventilators (screened) 

14 

Electricity Load (KVA) 

1,500 KVA 

Backup Generator(s) 

n/a 

n/a  

 

Milling Equipment 

Origin of Machinery 

Year of Mfg 

Year of Installation 

Condition 

Vietnam 

2016 

2015 

Good 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance 

Duration 

End of season (every three months) 

Type of Maintenance 

Preventive 

 

Other Equipment or Machinery Installed 

Type of Equipment 

Available 

Number 

Owned 

Comments 

Fortification Feeder 

Yes  

 

Bag Cleaning Plant 

No 

 

 

 

Moisture Tester 

Yes  

 

De-stoning Plant 

Yes  

 

Metal Extractor 

No 

 

 

 

 

Staffing 

Number of Full Time Skilled Workers 

15 

Number of Full Time Labourers 

17 

 

Weighbridge 

Number 

Capacity (MT) 

Length (m) 

Type 

Within Compound 

80 

18 

In-ground scale 

Within Compound 

 

 

 

 

Building 

 

Length (m) 

Width (m) 

Height (m) 

Building – Rice Mill 

35 

56.5 

n/a 

Building – Maize Mill 

 

 

 

Walls 

Good Condition 

Roof 

Good Condition 

Floor 

Good Condition 

 

Conditions & Cleanliness 

   

Outside 

Inside 

Cracks in Walls or Roof  

Yes   

Yes   

Signs of Rodent Activity  

Yes   

Yes   

Signs of Birds Entry  

Yes   

Yes   

Damaged Gutters/Drains 

Yes   

Yes   

Signs of Moisture  

Yes   

Yes   

Adjacent Vegetation 

Yes   

Yes   

Cleanliness 

Good  

Good  

 

Pest Control 

Fumigation 

Yes /  

Frequency 

Depending on conditions 

Contracted 

Depending on conditions 

Spraying  

No   

Frequency 

 

Contracted 

No   

Rodenticides  

No 

Frequency 

 

Contracted 

No   

Rodent Trapping 

Yes  

Frequency 

Weekly  

Contracted 

No   

 

Security  

Security  

Fair 

Compound  

Some parts are fenced 

Other Comments 

 

 

Access 

Distance from Main Town (km) 

30 KM 

Travel Time if not Located in Town (hours) 

30 min 

Road Condition to Mill 

Good 

Road Limitations (if any) 

n/a 

Rail Connections 

     No 

On the Railway From 

 

To 

 

Other Comments 

n/a 

 

Milling Capacity  

Commodities 

Daily Capacity (MT) 

Monthly Activity (MT) 

Rice 

50 MT 

1,500 MT 

 

Storage Capacity 

Storage in Metric Tons 

Rice– Covered (MT) 

Flour – Covered (MT) 

Within the Compound 

2,000 

n/a 

Outside the Compound 

n/a 

n/a 

 

Capacity to Blend:  

1 Ton / Hour 

 

Loading & Discharge Rates:  

300 Ton / Day 

 

Transport Capacity at Mill:  

300 Ton / Day 

 

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