Demand for Thai rice remains high

BANGKOK, November 7 (TNA) - Global demand for Thai rice remains high, particularly that for Thai jasmine, or Hom Mali, rice, which should be sold at a high price of 600-800 US dollars per tonne. Duangporn Rodphaya, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce, told journalists of the positive prospect on Monday. Duangporn said Thai rice exports this year, from January to November 2, totaled more than 8.4 million tonnes and they should, thus, reach 9.5 million tonnes totally by the end of this year as earlier targeted. Duangporn projected that Thai rice exports next year should total at least 9 million tonnes although rice prices on the world market may not be very high due to oversupply and dampness. The senior official explained that low rice prices on the global market currently are due to impacts from a global economic slowdown and oversupply by rice exporting countries. According to the senior official, Thai rice remains its comparative advantages on the world market due to its high quality but comparable prices with rival exporting countries. The senior official, however, encouraged Thai people to buy and consume more locally-produced grains to boost domestic demand and rice prices in order to raise local farmers' income. (TNA)