Rice advanced in Chicago after Turkey and Philippines sought cargoes of the grain due to declining global supplies.

Rice for May delivery increased by 3.3 percent or 75 cents, to $23.30 per 100 pounds on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Rice prices soared by 11 percent last week.

Rice costs more than doubled last year after countries like Vietnam, China, Egypt and India reduced exports in an effort to meet demand in their nations.

There are concerns that Turkey will abolish import duties on rice to counter speculations that increased rice prices in the past few weeks.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that high rice prices were partly brought about by concerns about the delay in U.S. rice planting.

There were reports that only 14 percent of the crop was sown in the six biggest growing states as of April 13, compared with 28 percent in the same period last year.

Rice exports from Thailand, the world's biggest supplier, increased by 66 percent to 3.26 million tons in the first quarter.

Egypt India China