South Asia in urgent call for Thailand rice.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are in talks with Thailand for an urgent purchase of 400,000 tonnes of rice to replenish their falling stocks, says the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Foreign Trade (DFT). DFT said the two countries have been hit by severe droughts and flooding in recent years, substantially damaging crop yields and forcing them to approach Thailand, which is not a regular supplier. The countries need to refill their stocks immediately so they are turning to Thailand, although it has been a long time since they have bought significant quantities of Thailand rice. Each country is seeking 200,000 tonnes of rice — mostly parboiled grade and common grade white rice.