According to industry experts, global rice supplies may never return to the earlier comfortable levels due to the strong global demand and limit to the production growth.

A recent report also confirmed the above view by predicting that global 2007-08 rice production is forecast at a record 423 million MT, while demand is projected at a record 424 million MT.

Assuming normal weather, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization currently forecasts 2008 world rice output will rise by 12 million MT or 1.8%, on the year.