The FAO forecast that the biggest riceproducer this year will be China with 142.3 million tonnes, followed by Indiawith 110.4 million tonnes, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
The report said global rice output is likelyto increase by 0.7 percent to 502.3 million tonnes thanks to productionfacilitation policies in Asia and yield recovery in South America andAustralia.
After two years of decrease, global riceexports are predicted to expand by 5 percent in 2017 to 44.2 million tonnes compared with 43.6million tonnes in the previous year, with India expected to remain the largestrice exporter.
The organisation said global rice priceshave been stabilised since early 2017 due to increasing demand and currencyreforms in India and Thailand. -VNA
VNA