Thais rice exports halted

Thais rice exports halted

BANGKOK (Reuters): Thai rice exporters said yesterday they
were maintaining their suspension of rice shipments to Indonesia
despite a calmer political situation there.

Any sales must be backed by letters of credit from credible
commercial banks in third countries, exporters told Reuters.

"Despite the seemingly calmer political situation,
uncertainties remain intense," said a marketing manager at a
major exporting company.

"We need more time to re-evaluate the risk," he said.

Thailand's outstanding obligations for rice exports to
Indonesia are estimated at 200,000 tons.

The rice previously intended for Indonesia is likely to be
diverted to Iran, Brazil and some African countries which have
been buying aggressively recently.