Thailand's loses top rice exporter title

Thailand lost its three-decades-old title as theworld's top rice exporter last year, falling behind India and Vietnam, industry sources said Friday.

Vietnam on Thursday announced that its rice exports for 2012 reached 7.6 million tons, up 10 per cent year-on-year. India’s rice exports last year exceeded 9.5 million tons, according to US Department of Agriculture figures.

Thailand exported 6.9 million in 2012, down 35.5 per cent from the10.7 million tonnes it shipped in 2011, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association’s and commerce ministry’s latest figures.