FAO estimated Thai rice exports will reach nearly seven milliontonnes by the end of 2013 and about 8.5 million tonnes next year.
It also projected global rice stocks will increase by 2.6 percent to 179 million tonnes in 2013-2014.
Thereport also lowered its global paddy production estimate from July byfive million tonnes to 741.4 million tonnes, citing adverse weather inChina, Pakistan and the Philippines.
The agencymaintained its global rice trade estimate at 37.5 million tonnes in 2013and projected 38.3 million tonnes will be traded in 2014.
China will import 3.3 million tonnes in 2014 followed by Nigeria with2.7 million tonnes and Indonesia with 1.1 million tonnes, the reportsaid.-VNA