Leading Myanmar rice exporters decided to temporarily suspend exports Monday in an effort to stop prices rising during heavy floods across the country, traders said according to a report in the Bangkok Post on 3 August.
Traders decided at a meeting Monday to suspend exports until Sept 15, when rice is harvested at the end of the rainy season, said Soe Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).
The price of rice had risen sharply in some flooded areas, including in the western states of Chin and Rakhine, local media reported.
The MRF said it was planning to ship rice to flood-affected areas later this week, in corporation with other rice trader groups.