Rice export rose 10% in Jan, Feb

BANGKOK, March 30 (TNA) -- Thailand exported 1.91 million tons of rice in the first two months of this year, rising by 10 per cent year-on-year. The Thai Rice Exporters Association reported that the value of the exports was estimated at 30.32 billion baht, up by 16.1 per cent year-on-year. Rice export in February alone amounted to 950,761 tons worth 14.92 billion baht. The volume dropped 1.2 per cent and the value fell 3.1 per cent compared with January. Orders for Hom Mali fragrant rice and parboiled rice dropped in February as Thai rice prices were high due to baht appreciation and it was rice harvest in Southeast Asia. In February the export of white rice amounted to 505,915 tons, up 10.6 per cent from January. Most of the export went to the Philippines, Indonesia, Benin, Angola, Mozambique, Malaysia and Togo. The export of parboiled rice amounted to 308,999 tons last month, felling by 18.7 per cent year-on-year. Main markets were Benin, South Africa, Yemen and Bangladesh. At the same time the export of Hom Mali rice amounted to 113,822 tons, down 9.9 per cent year-on-year. Main markets were the United States, China and Hong Kong. The association predicted the rice export at 850,000 tons in March. Export of white rice is continuing for Asian and African countries with Indonesia, Malaysia, Benin and Mozambique being major importers. The export of Hom Mali and parboiled rice would drop further as buyers turned to quality and cheaper rice of other countries, the association said. Thai Hom Mali price was quoted at US$1,144 per ton while the price of Vietnamese fragrant rice was at US$650 and that of Cambodian fragrant rice at US$900 per ton. (TNA)