Thailand's rice exports hit record 11.48 million tonnes

Thailand exported a record 11.48 million tonnes of rice in 2017, the commerce ministry of the country informed.

Thailand will be pursuing government-to-government deals this year with many countries, including Bangladesh and China, the ministry added. Besides, Iraq, Iran and Indonesia are in the list.

The amount, which surpassed the previous record of 10.96 million tonnes in 2014, was worth over US$5.1 billion, said Adul Chotinisakorn, deputy chief of the commerce ministry's department of foreign trade.

Thailand, the world's second-biggest rice exporter after India, is expected to ship out 9.5 million tonnes of rice worth US$4.7 billion this year.

A lower forecast is maintained as bad weather is affecting the crops, Adul said. Thailand exported 9.88 million tonnes of rice in 2016, reports, The Business Times.