Vietnam To Double Rice Exports

Vietnam is expected to double its rice exports in the last three months of this year to reach the 1 million MT mark in order to meet its full-year export target.

Vietnam exported 500,000 MT of rice in the last quarter of 2007 when its total grain shipment reached 4.5 million MT, ranking it as the world's third-largest rice exporter after Thailand and India. Hanoi has projected rice exports this year at 4.6 million MT.

Rice prices in Thailand and Vietnam have eased from a peak in April because of tight supply, but steady demand for Vietnamese rice and a government buying scheme in both the leading grain export nations could keep prices stable.