Rice exports to get a boost in the second half of this year
THE COMMERCE Ministry expects rice exports to increase in the latter half of this year and meet this year’s target of 9.50 million tonnes, amid the constant demand for the staple.
Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said yesterday that local and overseas markets continued to have demand for rice with good signals from major importers like China, the Philippines and Indonesia.
Government-to-government rice deals with the Chinese government are also continuing.
Under the new contract, about 1 million tonnes of rice will be shipped to the Chinese government in August.
Major buyers including the Philippines and Indonesia are expected to want more government-to-government rice deals in the rest of the year.
Drought in India
Thailand’s key rival India is suffering from drought and needs to stock more rice to ensure sufficient domestic supplies to meet consumption needs in the country.
Under the marketing plan, promotional activities will be prepared consistently to drive up rice exports and rice products.
Delegations will be dispatched to Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Mozambique and Kenya.
For the first six months of this year, rice exports rose 11.4 per cent year on year to 4.71 million tonnes worth US$1.55 million or Bt73.90 billion.
White rice topped the list, amounting to more than half of exports, followed by jasmine rice, steamed rice, sticky rice, Pathum Thani rice and brown rice.
Most of Thailand’s rice exports go to Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.
