The world?s biggest rice exporter is getting edgy about an increase in production by its once-mighty rice-producing neighbor, Burma... "The 1.3 million tons exported by the Burmese in 2009 is making the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) question whether to remain focused on volume exports or vacate that spot to new competitors like Burma and pursue the top-quality market. A reinvigorated Burmese industry is expected to raise its annual export volume to between 2.5 to 3 million tons over the next few years, the Thai Rice Millers Association warned in March. Burma?s rice production growth is being aided by a major re-organization of the domestic industry announced at the beginning of this year when the Myanmar Rice Industry Association (MRIA) was created from three separate production and trading groups. The increase in production in Burma comes despite continuing problems and lack of investment in the key Irrawaddy delta region so badly hit by Cyclone Nargis in 2008..."