The situation "suggests that a falling dollar will keep rice (and commodity) prices higher," according to the latest edition of the institute's bimonthly publication "Rice Today".
Philippines-based IRRI said there was currently a "sense of false comfort" as the price of the staple falls back to normal levels.
Exporters of lower grade rice "find it hard to look for markets" while the financial crisis has pinched credit and importers are taking a "cautious approach to stock-building," it said.
However, it said the dollar was expected to "weaken in the coming months" as US debt builds up and fiscal policy spending puts more pressure on the currency, which it said leads to a "dollar trap" where "the value of several countries' reserves will become lower.
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On the other hand, India's expected return to the export market should help ease prices.
"We expect a pitched battle between the current negative sentiment that draws prices lower -- especially with India possibly returning to