Thailand Jan 1-May 8 Rice Exports 2.81 Mil MT

Thailand's rice exports from Jan. 1 to May 8 rose 10.5% on year to 2.81 million metric tons, the Commerce Ministry's Department of Foreign Trade said Wednesday. Rice exports for May 1-8 totaled 153,556 tons, down 8.0% on year. The Department of Foreign Trade didn't give a reason for the figures. 
 
The following table shows Thailand's rice exports from Jan. 1 to May 8 compared with a year earlier. Figures are in metric tons. Thailand is the world's largest rice exporter.
 
 
                              2007                    2006
                   Jan 1-May 8   May 1-8   Jan 1-May 8   May 1-8
Private Exporters  2,669,022     139,376   2,546,442     166,860
Government           145,943      14,180       -            -
Total              2,814,965     153,556   2,546,442     166,860