Rice exports benefitting from India's export banWorkers unload sacks of rice imported from Thailand from a cargo ship at Malahayati Port in Krueng Raya, Indonesia's Aceh province. (Photo: AFP)Thailand is benefitting from India's rice export ban and has no reason to halt shipments of the grain itself, caretaker Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Monday. In the first seven months, Thailand shipped 4.8 million metric tons, he said, adding monthly exports stood at 700,000 to 800,000 metric tons. Thailand, the world's second-largest rice exporter after India, is expected to export more than 8 million metric tons of rice this year, said Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, up from 7.71 million last year. Two trade sources said last week that some rice exporters in Thailand and Vietnam were re-negotiating prices on sales contracts for around half a million metric tons for August shipment, after India shocked global markets with a ban on exports of non-basmati white rice.
