BANGKOK, THAILAND — Rice and corn production in Thailand are forecast to increase to record levels in 2019-20 due to expanded acreage driven by attractive prices, according to a March 15 Global Agricultural Information Network report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“The government is expected to maintain the above average domestic prices through financial supports for both rice and corn farmers, including a pledging program for paddy rice,” the USDA said.

Rice production is forecast to increase to 21.1 million tonnes, a 2% increase from 2018-19. Corn output also is expected to increase by 2% to 5.4 million tonnes.

Rice and corn consumption are forecast to increase 1% to 3% in line with feed demand growth, according to the USDA.

Additional import demand for feed wheat is expected to increase to around 2 million tonnes, up 3% from 2018-19 mainly due to insufficient supplies of domestic corn to meet growing broiler feed demand.

Milling wheat imports also are expected to increase to around 1 million tonnes in 2019-20, up 2% from 2018-19 in anticipation of growing demand from bakeries and noodle producers.