BANGKOK, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's rice exports rose 21.97 percent in the first seven months of 2024 compared to a year earlier, driven by rising global demand as rice-importing countries seek to secure stocks amid food security concerns, official data showed on Wednesday.
The Southeast Asian country shipped out 5.68 million tons of rice during the January-July period, worth 132.4 billion baht (about 3.7 billion U.S. dollars), representing a 50.97 percent jump in export value year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Thai rice exports are expected to surpass the projected target of 8.2 million tons this year, partially due to India's ongoing export restrictions, which have tightened global rice supply, the ministry said in a statement. ■
