Exporters to meet with Vietnamese | Bangkok Post: business

RICE

Thailand is ready to discuss the impact of a sudden rise in rice prices with Vietnam in order to strengthen cooperation between the world's two biggest exporters to market the grain globally.

Thai rice exporters will meet their Vietnamese counterparts and the Vietnam Food Association in mid-September to evaluate the potential impact of the new government's revival of crop mortgages to help raise farmers' incomes.

The Pheu Thai-led administration has pledged to pay farmers 15,000 baht for a tonne for paddy _ about 4,000 baht more than prevailing market rates _ during the next harvest starting in November. That could push up the export price of Thai 5% white rice to about US$800 a tonne from around $550 now.