World’s rice glut will be put to the test with El Nino

Rice surplus: Workers carry sacks of rice imported from Thailand at an Indonesian logistics bureau warehouse in Aceh. Overall rice harvests are forecast to remain steady this year. — AFP

BANGKOK: The world is awash in rice with global stockpiles at close to record levels. El Nino’s arrival will put those reserves to the test.

The weather pattern usually brings hotter and drier conditions to Asia, which produces and consumes 90% of the global rice supply.