Hong Kong imports more Thai rice

BANGKOK, August 5 (TNA) - The Ministry of Commerce reports that Hong Kong has purchased more Thai rice during the first five months of this year. Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya told journalists on Wednesday that Thailand's international trade promotion office in Hong Kong recently reported Hong Kong's purchase of 78,194 tons of Thai Hom Mali or fragrant rice during the January-May 2015 period, a 23 per cent year-on-year surge in volume. General Chatchai also noted that there have been growing demands for Thai rice from many other countries. Besides, an auction of 660,000 tons of government rice early next week should produce good proceeds, as the price of paddy has risen to 9,000 baht per ton. The commerce minister acknowledged that senior commerce officials and industrialists have discussed Thailand's export situation and shared the same view that the overall value of Thai exports might not grow this year, compared with a previous 1.2 per cent growth anticipation, attributing the latest prediction to a global economic slowdown and low oil prices worldwide. However, the commerce minister pointed out that Thailand's export situation appears to be better than many other countries, while Thailand has also retained market shares well, assessing that the Thai government's export promotion measures should bear fruit from early next year onwards. (TNA)