In Vietnam, prices were also unchanged at high levels on limited export supply and expected fresh demand from the Philippines.

Vietnam is expected to supply the bulk of the 580,000 MT of rice that the Philippines sought to buy in a tender held Wednesday. The National Food Authority, the Philippines' state-owned grains trading firm, could buy a total of 415,000 MT of rice from Vietnam.

Vietnam's 5% broken was offered Thursday at $300 PMT FOB, while the 25% broken was offered at $285 PMT. These prices were unchanged at prices offered Wednesday.