Bangkok, May 1 - Thailand, the world's largest rice exporter, will not restrict exports of the grain despite prices surging to record highs, as domestic supplies were improving, the country's agriculture minister said on Thursday.
"We will never restrict exports," Somsak Prisnanantakul told Reuters in an interview. "We have ample stocks to meet our domestic demand and export commitments. The domestic supply situation is improving."
He said that Thailand would produce 30 million tonnes of paddy in 2008, about the same as last year, but the government would aim to increase rice growing areas in coming years to boost output.