BANGKOK, June 7 (TNA) — The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives predicts that the prices of Hom Mali fragrant paddy rice and glutinous paddy rice would rise this month and the market of bagged health promotion rice would expand this year.
BAAC executive vice president Somkiat Kimawaha said the price of Hom Mali paddy rice would go up slightly to 15,735-15,780 baht per ton and that of long-grain glutinous paddy rice would rise to 11,250-11,300 baht per ton.
He attributed the increase to drought, saying water shortages were likely to reduce rice yields and prompt traders to raise their rice stocks.
However, the price of paddy rice with 15% moisture content should fall to 7,753-7,813 baht per ton because the value of baht was likely to appreciate and the trade war between China and the United States was affecting Thai exports, Mr Somkiat said.
Yongyut Phurkmahadamrong, vice president of CP Intertrade Co, said the market of bagged rice for health promotion, especially Kor Khor 43 rice with low sugar content, should grow by 10% year-on-year in the second half of this year.
He expected the prices of retail rice to remain unchanged until the end of this year. (TNA)
