The World Bank Global Commodity Outlook predicts that rice prices will continue to increase due to export bans and the ongoing risk of El Niño, with an estimated additional 6 per cent increase in global rice prices in 2024. High demand from countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia has caused rice prices to increase in producing countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Argentina, with the price of US long-grain milled rice reaching its highest point since 2008. Despite efforts to lift bans and open borders, experts suggest that increasing local production is the best solution to combat rising rice prices, with the president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria calling for government subsidies and limited protectionism for key industries.