Dubai's rice trade jumped 155.3 per cent to Dh3.043 billion ($828 million) in the first half of 2008, from Dh1.191 billion ($324 million) during the same period last year, said the Statistics Department of Dubai World.

The volume went up to 823,000 tonnes for the period from 579,000 tonnes last year, according to a report in the Gulf News.

The rise in rice trade points to a radical change in the food habits of a greater number of people around the world, due to price increases of key food items, the report said. Rice seems to have replaced luxury foods as the main food.

Dubai's rice imports for H1 hit Dh2.287 billion (585,000 tonnes) against Dh927 million (445,000 tonnes) forthe same period year ago.

Rice re-exports touched Dh755 million (238,000 tonnes) for the period, compared to Dh264 million (133,000 tonnes).

India came first in the list of countries exporting rice to Dubai valued at Dh1.549 billion, or 67.7 per cent of the total trade for the period, followed by  Pakistan with Dh610 million or 26.6 per cent, and Thailand at third place with Dh95 million or 4.2 per cent, said the report.