USDA has kept its forecast for Thailand’s rice production for 2017-18 unchanged at 20.4 mln tn, as it believes that floods in Jul-Aug had a minimal effect on paddy crop. At 20.4 mln tn, rice production in the country is seen rising 6% on year. The Thailand government is also expected to sell its 2016-17 rice stocks resulting in higher rice utilisation in feed rations and more competitive rice exports. USDA had pegged 2016-17 carryover rice stocks at 4.8 mln tn, and 2017-18 carryover stock at 3.9 mln tn. The country is expected to export 11 mln tn of rice in 2016-17, while the exports are seen declining to 10 mln tn in 2017-18.