Rising world demand for Hom Mali rice

BANGKOK, August 7 (TNA) - Global demand for the Hom Mali or fragrant rice has been increasing, proping up its price on the world market to around 850 US dollars a ton currently. Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) President Police Lieutenant Charoen Laothamatas told journalists of the update on Monday, noting that the new Hom Mali rice price has quickly increased from 800 US dollars a ton recently. The TREA chief said the flooding situation currently in several provinces in the Thai Northeast has not affected Thai Hom Mali rice exports, as rice shipments to the world market so far have been old stocks. The TREA chief revealed that the new lot of Thai Hom Mali rice will be harvested late this year and teams of staff of his association will soon conduct a field survey of rice growing areas in the flood-affected Thai Northeast to assess the situation. The TREA chief pointed out that normally, there is more rice output after a flooding, thanks to floodwater-borne fertilizers left in local rice fields. Besides, rice growing areas in the Thai Northeast are mostly in highlands, while Hom Mali rice is tolerable to floodwater for about 14 days; so, the current floods should not much affect exports of Thai Hom Mali rice next year. (TNA)