BANGKOK, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Thailand is expected to earn more income from the sales of food to the world markets this year.

Wisit Limluecha, head of the Federation of Thai Industries' food industry division, said on Wednesday that Thailand is forecast to export 1.08 trillion baht (about 31.76 billion U.S. dollars) in raw and processed food to the world markets throughout this year, accounting for an 8-percent increase from last year.

Of those exported food, the volume of processed food will increase while that of raw food will decline, according to the FTI's food division head.

The prices of the processed food bound for export will likely increase while their qualities will as well be enhanced and upgraded to meet the world demands, Wisit said.

He said Thailand currently ranks the 14th among the world's largest food exporters and would rise among the top 10 in foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, the country's Office of Industrial Economics is currently drafting a masterplan for food industry development with focus on processed food for export.

The masterplan is scheduled to be submitted for cabinet approval next month.