The commerce ministry expects Thailand to ship 7 million tonnes of rice this year; 3.9 million tonnes went out in the first seven months. Export white rice (5%) averages US$467/tonne, up 19% year on year, and domestic jasmine rice is about 17,500 baht/tonne. Iraq, which normally takes about 1 million tonnes, is hard to reach because of shipping limits, so exporters are shifting to Malaysia (over 700,000 tonnes expected) and Africa. A 500,000-tonne G2G deal with China is signed, with about 40,000 tonnes delivered. Private exporters warn white rice faces tough competition from India and Vietnam, and El Niño could shift supply and prices next year. For rice millers and traders, plan for firm prices through the main harvest (Nov to Mar), and watch freight costs and new market routes.