Rice exports to fall again in 2013

Rice exports to fall again in 2013

Thai rice exports in 2013 are expected to fall for the second year to an estimated 6.5 million tonnes, due largely to strong market competition and thin demand, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

This is far lower than the 8.5 million tonnes projected by the Commerce Ministry.

Low demand from major buyers China, Indonesia and the Philippines, and higher demand for rice from Vietnam and India, were to blame for the decline, association president Korbsook Iamsuri said. 

Thai rice exports dropped sharply by 35% to 6.9 million tonnes in 2012 and exporters put blame on the state's rice pledging policy, which paid over-the-market for pawned rice and meant the Thai crop was less competitive on the global market.

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