From January to the end of August 2005, Egypt exported 776,863 MT of rice.

In 2005, Egypt's rice exports are expected to reach 1 million MT, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture attache report posted Thursday on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site.

Production, supply and demand estimates for 2005 have been revised to reflect new information obtained from Egyptian rice experts.

Estimated production was revised downward from 6.3 million tons to 6.2 million MT. The total export estimate was also revised downward from 1.1 million MT to 1 million MT.

From the beginning of January through the end of August 2005, Egypt exported 776,863 MT of rice compared to 429,996 MT during the same period in 2004. Egypt is expected to achieve record rice exports at the end of 2005; exports are expected to total 1 million MT.

Egyptian rice exports made significant gains mainly due to the considerable shortage of medium grain rice supply in the international market.