Thailand aims to export 8 million tonnes of rice in 2014

BANGKOK, January 1 (TNA) - Thailand’s Commerce Ministry has mapped out a plan to export a minimum of eight million tonnes of rice with earnings of up to 4.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, said Surasak Riangkrul, director-general of the Ministry’s Foreign Trade Department. The plan to export rice to both Thailand’s traditional and niche markets in 2014 will be submitted to cabinet sometime after a new government is formed following the February 2 general election. Mr. Surasak admitted that Thailand’s rice exports for 2013 were below than earlier projections because of prices which were higher than competing countries. Also, some of the countries which were importers of Thai rice earlier had become exporters. Thailand exported more than 6.4 million tonnes of rice and earned about 4.21 billion U.S. dollars from January to December 16, 2013. The government earlier projected that the country would be able to export between 8-8.5 million tonnes, Mr. Surasak added. (TNA)