Thai rice exporters will sell a total of 275,000 MT of rice to China, Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet said Wednesday.

The orders are for 223,000 MT of jasmine rice and 52,000 MT of various grades of white rice. The rice is to be delivered this year. Price negotiations are currently underway.

China is a key export market for Thai rice, purchasing 600,000-700,000 MT a year, Krirkkrai said in a statement.

The sale would help assure that Thailand's rice exports meet the target for the year of 8.5 million MT.