Rice prices in India edged up this week, buoyed by a stronger rupee, while export demand in Thailand and Vietnam slowed ahead of the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays. In top exporter India, 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices gained $2 per tonne to $418-$421 per tonne. Export prices have gone up marginally to offset the impact of the higher rupee,” said an exporter based in Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.