Most Thai rice futures ended lower on Monday as investors liquidated nearby contracts ahead of expiry and waited for clear directions, brokers said.
Overall volume dropped as 38 contracts of 5 percent white rice were traded compared to Friday's 88. The most active December contract settled at 11.52 baht per kg, down from 11.54 baht, with the number of contracts traded falling to 12 from Friday's 16.
The November contract settled steady at 11.44 baht per kg, with 10 contracts traded. No November contract was traded on Friday.
"Players liquidated November and December contracts as they wanted to cash in profits and then stayed on the sidelines waiting for clear directions," one broker said.
Trading volume was expected to remain thin over the next few weeks as investors were waiting to see how prices move once the government starts buying next month.
It buys rice from farmers at higher than market prices to support domestic prices when the main crop comes to market in November and set the price of 5 percent paddy grade at 7,100 baht ($173) per tonne.
On the physical front, Thai 5 percent white rice was steady at 11.15 baht per kg.