The appointment of the two surveyors comes after South-east Asia's largest rice consumer curbed rice exports in mid-April to help build up domestic stocks amid soaring global rice prices.

Indonesia is not a big rice exporter, shipping just 50,000 tonnes of organic rice last year, but its prices are lower than global rice prices, which raised concerns over the possibility of rice smuggling, especially into neighbouring Philippines.

The Trade Ministry appointed state surveyors PT Sucofindo and PT Surveyor Indonesia to check rice exports, including volume, type of rice, loading and destination ports, as well as exporting companies, the ministry said on its website.

'We need to make sure that the rice shipped overseas matches what is stated in export permits given to exporters,' Diah Maulida, director general of foreign trade at the trade ministry, said.

The two surveyors have been responsible for checking rice imports since 2004.

Global rice prices surged to historic highs recently triggered by supply shortages and strong demand, sparking fears of political unrest in some parts of Asia.

Trade Minister Mari Pangestu has said the country has started cracking down on rice smuggling along its borders with, or areas close to Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

Indonesia's rice production is likely to be more than 34 million this year, or about 2 million tonnes higher than domestic demand. -- REUTERS

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