Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations sees global production of rice in 2017-18 at a record high of 503.4 mln tn, up from its previous estimate of 502.9 mln tn released in July. The rise is primarily because of upward adjustment to forecasts for India, Philippines and Thailand, which compensated for downward revision for crops in China and North Korea. Global consumption of rice during the period is also seen increasing to 506.5 mln tn, up from 505.6 mln tn estimated earlier. The increase is dominated by higher use of the grain in the food sector. The forecast for rice trade is also increased slightly due to firm demand from east and west Africa. FAO has forecast global rice trade in 2017-18 at 44.8 mln tn, up from 44.4 mln tn estimated earlier. The increase in ending stocks of rice is also marginal at 171.2 mln tn due to lower forecast of stocks in China, Egypt and the US. The organisation had, in July, pegged rice stocks at 171.0 mln tn.