This week, Indian rice export prices remained steady, with 5% broken parboiled rice priced at $341 to $348 per metric ton and 5% broken white rice at $336 to $341 per ton. Demand has weakened, particularly from African buyers, attributed to higher freight rates and currency volatility. In contrast, Vietnamese rice prices increased to $375 per metric ton, up from $350 to $355 last week, driven by narrowing domestic supplies and rising production costs linked to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Similarly, Thai rice prices rose slightly to $370 to $375 per ton, attributed to exchange rate fluctuations and sporadic demand from Europe and parts of Asia. Additionally, Bangladesh continues to experience elevated rice prices despite strong harvests, exacerbating inflation and living cost challenges for consumers.