USDA has raised its estimate for India’s rice output in 2017-18 to 110 mln tn from 108 mln tn projected in August. The rise can be attributed to favourable weather in the rice growing regions of northern India. USDA has also marginally raised India’s rice export estimates to 11.8 mln tn from 11.5 mln projected earlier. Higher shipments from India will boost overall global exports by 0.5 mln tn, now seen at 44.2 mln tn. USDA has pegged global rice production in 2017-18 at 483.4 mln tn, up from 482.6 mln tn estimated a month ago due to higher production in India. Global consumption estimate for rice has been increased by 1.1 mln tn to 480.17 mln tn, it said. Carryover stocks of rice are seen at 123.52 mln tn, up from 122.9 mln tn estimated a month ago.