Chicago Board of Trade rice futures rebounded strongly Thursday, with strong export sales and demand for July rice fueling a rally that sent the nearby contract to its expanded daily limit.

July rice closed up 75 cents at $19.36 per cwt; September rice closed up 51 1/2 cents at $18.59 1/2; and November rice closed up 54 cents at $18.62. All three contracts had closed limit down Wednesday.