USDA arm pegs Thailand 2018-19 rice export down at 10.0 mln tn

The Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture has pegged rice exports from Thailand at 10.0 mln tn in 2018-19, against 10.5 mln tn estimated for 2017-18. At 10.0 mln tn, the country’s rice exports are seen lower than the US Department of Agriculture’s projection of 11.0 mln tn. The country’s rice exports at 10.5 mln in 2017-18, are seen down 9% on year mainly because of limited availability of rice stocks with the government for sale. The country is one of the leading exporters of rice in the world and competes with India for share in international market. Thailand has exported 6.2 mln tn rice during Jan-Jul, down 4% from the same period last year mainly because of reduced sale of fragrant rice, which more than offset the increase in white and parboiled rice sales.