Thai rice exports down 30% in first quarter, association says

BANGKOK, April 21 (Reuters) - Thai rice exports fell 30% annually in the first quarter of this year to 2.1 million metric tons, an industry association said on Monday.

Full-year exports may be below a forecast of 7.5 million tons this year, but exporters were seeing more orders from the United States after a 90-pause on the imposition of steep new tariffs, said Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.