OREANDA-NEWS. February 04, 2015. Thailand's 2015 rice exports will likely come in at 10 million tonnes, lower than 2014 shipments, the Thai Rice Exporters Association chairman said on Tuesday.

Strong competition from rival exporter Vietnam would make it difficult for Thailand to export as much in 2015 as it did last year, Thai Rice Exporters Association Chairman Chookiat Ophaswongse told Reuters.

The country exported around 10.8 million tonnes of rice in 2014, a record high, according to the commerce ministry.

"Vietnam has lowered its prices, it will take some more market share," Chookiat told Reuters.

The government would struggle to sell as much rice from Thailand's massive stockpiles as it is targeting in 2015 as there is limited global appetite for old crop rice, he said.