(Repeats Jan. 11 report with no changes to text)
* Supplies are falling in northern states - Indian trader
* Market awaits new crops to enter around Feb, March - Thai trader
* Vietnamese traders expect strong demand this year
Jan 11 (Reuters) - Prices of rice exported from major Asian hubs remained steady this week, as moderate-to-flat demand for the staple was offset by support from declining supplies.
India's 5% broken parboiled variety
"Demand is a bit low, but exporters can't lower prices because of strengthening rupee. Supplies are also falling in northern states," said an exporter at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
Vietnam's 5% broken rice
"We expect global demand for Vietnamese rice to remain strong this year, with prices staying at levels that might encourage farmers to expand production over the next crops," a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said.
Preliminary shipping data showed 80,840 metric tons of rice to be loaded at Ho Chi Minh City port in January, with most heading to the Philippines and Indonesia.
Thailand's 5% broken rice prices
"There are consistent demands from Indonesia and the Philippines," a Bangkok-based trader said, adding that the fluctuation of the exchange rate this week has also played a role in holding the prices steady.
Supply level has also dropped as market waits for new crops to enter around February, March, another trader said. (Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru, Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok; Editing by Varun H K)