Thailand once again tops world rice exports

Thailand has exported 7.1 million tons of rice so far this year, and looks likely to keep its position as the world's top seller -- but will likely lose the title next year.

Figures compiled and released on the weekend by the Thai Rice Exporters Association showed good rice crops for both the main harvest in February and the secondary in June.

Large government-to-government rice sales to China helped to tip the scale and help Thailand recover its position at the top of world exporters. India was the 2014 export leader.

Chukiat Opaswong, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, was quote in the Bangkok Post newspaper as saying the country will probably wind up 2015 with between 9.7 and 10 million tons of rice exports. The country has shipped 700,000 tons of the million-ton total sales to China.

The good news for 2015 is unlikely to hold for next year however. The nation is in the middle of a lengthy drought caused by an El Nino weather phenomenon. Last spring, reservoirs and dams across Thailand were virtually emptied by the time storms and a short rainy season -- still under way -- partially refilled them.

On Sunday, the Royal Irrigation Department reported dam and reservoir levels were 47 percent filled, on average, with rains in their last weeks before the cool and dry seasons set in until at least next June.

The military government has "requested" that farmers refrain from planting rice. This has locked the army-run regime into a conflict with the rice farmers.

However, between the ongoing drought conditions and the military's attempt to harass water users, the 2016 crops are certain to be below par.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted in September, however, that Thailand will likely dig into its rice store and still be the top exporter next year.