April 24, 2008
Bangkok - Japan has turned down 60,000 tons of rice from Thailand after the price nearly doubled in the space of a month, the Thai Rice Exporters Association said Wednesday.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, president of the association, said Thailand on Tuesday offered the Japanese government 100 percent white rice at 1,300 dollars per tonne -- up from the 720 dollars in March.
"This time, Japan turned it down, saying that the price was too high for their budget," Chookiat said, adding that Japan did not want to be seen as a country pushing up global rice prices.
International demand for Thai rice has soared after other top exporters Vietnam and India imposed limits on exports to ensure domestic supply.
Chookiat thought Thai rice prices which have soared since February would be steady in the next two months.
Thailand is now waiting to hear from two major rice importers –Indonesian and Iran – as their demand can drive the prices up.
Thailand exported more than one million tonnes of rice to Indonesia and Iran last year, while Japan received more than 200,000 tonnes, according to AFP.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association released updated figures Wednesday, with the benchmark Pathumthani fragrant rice priced at 998 dollars per tonne, up from 956 dollars two weeks ago.
Four weeks ago, that grain was selling at 624 dollars.
