Thailand Jan-May rice exports down

BANGKOK: Thailand’s rice exports fell 10.75percent from January to May compared to the same period of last year, the Commerce Ministry said on Friday.

In the January to May period, Thailand shipped 2.74 million metric tons of rice, according to the Commerce Ministry.

Thailand is aiming to achieve an export target of 7 million tons of rice this year and will seek to expand into new markets in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, the ministry said.

Thailand is the world’s second-largest rice exporter. The government is also in negotiations with China to sell another 460,000 tons of rice, it said.

Exports to Iraq, one of the biggest buyers of Thai rice, will return to normal as the situation in the Middle East eases, the ministry said.