Rice Production in Thailand Poised to Reach Record in 2012-2013

Thailand, set to be the world’s biggest rice exporter this year, may harvest a record crop as a government plan to lift farm income boosted planting, said the Office of Agricultural Economics.

Production of unmilled rice in the year started October will increase 9.4 percent to 37.9 million metric tons from a year earlier, while planting area expanded 0.8 percent to 78.8 million rai (12.6 million hectares), the office said in a statement today. The main harvest, accounting for 69 percent of annual output, will rise 12.6 percent to 26.2 million tons, while production from the second crop may add 11.7 million tons.