Thailand's rice exports for the current year are likely to exceed 9 million MT bolstered by high world demand and domestic shortages among rival exporting nations of Vietnam and India.

According to Thailand's director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, Thai rice exports hit 8.74 million MT in the first 11 months of 2007, earning the country $3.3 billion.

Thailand has been the world's leading rice exporter for the past four decades.