With weaker import demand, the market strength largely reflects policies in the major exporting countries, tending to reduce export supplies, for instance, through export restrictions and the retention of large public stocks. Global rice inventories are projected to rebuild over the Outlook by 18% by 2019 and this should increase the stocks-to-use ratio. World rice prices are expected to weaken in the coming years, ending in 2019 at USD 422 per tonne.