FACTBOX-World's top 10 rice exporters and importers

BANGKOK, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Thailand runs the risk this year
of losing its position as the world's biggest exporter of rice
because of high prices brought about by a government
intervention scheme.
Forecasts from the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) show India could leapfrog Thailand this year, having
resumed exports last September after a four-year gap. Vietnam
could also ship more than Thailand to retain its second place.
India pulled out of the market in 2007 because of concern
about food shortages that in April 2008 pushed Thailand's
benchmark 100 percent B grade white rice to a record high of
$1,080 per tonne.
The benchmark has not returned to anywhere near that level
this year and now stands around $580 a tonne.
Here are USDA rankings and forecasts for the world's top 10
rice importing and exporting countries.
World's top 10 rice exporters (in million tonnes):
Country Exports Forecast
(2011) (2012)
1. Thailand 10.64 6.50
2. Vietnam 7.00 7.00
3. India 4.63 8.00
4. Pakistan 3.41 3.75
5. Brazil 1.29 0.90
6. Cambodia 0.86 0.80
7. Uruguay 0.84 0.85
8. Myanmar 0.77 0.60
9. Argentina 0.73 0.65
10.China 0.48 0.50

World's top 10 rice importers (in million tonnes):
Country Imports Forecast
(2011) (2012)
1. Indonesia 3.09 1.25
2. Nigeria 2.55 2.45
3. Iran 1.87 1.90
4. Bangladesh 1.48 0.40
5. EU-27 1.47 1.40
6. Philippines 1.20 1.50
7. Malaysia 1.07 1.08
8. Saudi Arabia 1.05 1.15
9. Iraq 1.03 1.20
10.Ivory Coast 0.93 0.95
Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

(Reporting by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat; Editing by Alan
Raybould and Clarence Fernandez)