USDA has raised its forecast for India’s rice exports in 2017-18 to 11.0 mln tn from 10.5 mln tn projected in June. In 2016-17, India had exported 10.5 mln tn rice. Exports are seen higher in 2017-18, primarily due to a rise in ouput. The US agency has increased its estimate for rice production in 2017-18 to a record 108.0 mln tn, against its previous forecast of 106.0 mln tn. World rice production in 2017-18 is seen at 483.7 mln tn, up from 481.0 mln tn seen in June, it said. The estimate for rice carryover stocks has been raised to 122.52 mln tn from 120.6 a month ago. Global exports of rice pegged at 43.2 mln tn, against 42.7 mln tn a month ago and imports are seen at 40.81 mln tn, up from 40.24 last month.