Thai rice exports likely to meet target in 2016

BANGKOK, August 18 (TNA) - The Ministry of Commerce has maintained its target of Thai rice exports this year at 9.5 million tonnes. Duangporn Rodphaya, Director-General of the ministry's Department of Foreign Trade, told journalists on Thursday that the target has been maintained based on official statistics showing that Thai rice exports had stood at 5.5 million tonnes during the first seven months of this year, worth 86.6 billion baht. Duangporn said that the Thai rice exports during the January-July period were 8.5 per cent year-on-year increase in volume and 5.8 per cent year-on-year increase in value. According to the senior official, the rice prices on the world market this year are about 10 per cent lower than last year. (TNA)