Bangkok - Thailand's rice exports to Iran are likely to reach 1.2 million tons this year thanks to a supply shortage from its main competitor Vietnam, news reports said Thursday. Chookiat Ophaswongse, president of Thailand's Rice Exporters Association, said Iran is expected to import an additional 400,000 tons of rice from the kingdom during the rest of the year because of a shortfall in Vietnam, Thailand's main rival, The Nation newspaper reported.
Altogether Thai rice exports to Iran in 2007 should hit 1.2 million tons, helping the country achieve its export target of 8.5 million tons, said Chookiat.
Thailand has been the world's leading rice exporter for the past four decades. Vietnam and the US usually rank second and third after Thailand in the international rice trade.
