THAILAND

Rice Exporters to Complete Japan Deal: The exporters will soon complete the deal with several trading firms to sell 133,000 tons of rice to Japan, an official for the Thai Rice Exporters Assn. said. The deal for Japan to purchase 100,000 tons of 100% B white rice and 33,000 tons of glutinous rice was agreed to in principle on Oct. 1, but is awaiting approval by the Japanese government, the official said. The expected demand from Japan has driven Thai rice prices higher over the last week, when Japan said it would import up to 1.5 million tons from Thailand, the United States, Australia and China due to a poor harvest. One-hundred-percent white rice from Thailand is now selling for $270 a ton, up $20 a ton since last week. The price of glutinous, or sticky, rice, which is grown only in Asia, has increased even more, to $340 a ton from an average of $280 a ton last week.