NEW YORK, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Thai sugar and sugarcane production are forecast to decline in 2018-19 as consumption wanes and non-alcoholic beverage makers use less sugar after the nation passed a tax on sugary drinks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said. Sugarcane production is forecast to decline 4 percent to 130 million tonnes in 2018-19, due to reduced average yields after less rain fell than expected in major growing areas, according to an attache report published on the USDA website on Wednesday. Sugar production for the same period is expected to decrease 6 percent from a record 14.7 million tonnes in 2017-18 to 13.8 million tonnes, the USDA said. The USDA attache in Thailand said in the Sept. 27 report that during the first half of 2018, sugar consumption was at 1.3 million tonnes, 6 percent lower than the same period last year. As the third-largest producer of sugar after Brazil and India, Thailand joined the growing list of regions implementing taxes on sweetened beverages in 2017, in an effort to reduce consumption of sugary drinks. Non-alcoholic drink manufacturers comprise around half of global industrial sugar consumption. Beverage makers are reformulating products to reduce sugar content, the USDA report said. Meanwhile, for 2017-18, sugar exports are forecast to reach a record 10.5 million tonnes after stronger-than-expected sugarcane production led to lower raw sugar prices. Raw sugar exports are forecast to nearly double in 2017-18, while white and refined sugar exports will likely increase 15 percent to 4.5 million tonnes, according to the report. (Reporting by Renita D. Young Editing by James Dalgleish)