Rice export volumes soar in first 8 months
Rice exports in the first eight months of the year grew significantly, by almost 60 per cent year on year, to 6.59 million tonnes, thanks to strong demand in many markets and a high supply from government stocks, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Assoc
The association reported that the value of rice exports also increased by 22.4 per cent year on year to Bt105.83 billion.
Charoen Laothamatas, president of the association, said demand had increased considerably since July this year, particularly for white rice in some African countries.
In the first eight months of last year, Thailand exported only 4.14 million tonnes of rice worth Bt86.47 billion.
In the January-August period this year, Benin imported the most at 852,502 tonnes, followed by Nigeria with 474,561 tonnes, China with 432,220, Ivory Coast with 383,663 and South Africa with 335,529.
August saw the highest monthly volume of rice exports so far this year at 925,023 tonnes, up by 3.5 per cent year on year. Much of that was parboiled rice, at 405,716 tonnes, up by 17 per cent from July.
Parboiled rice went largely to Nigeria, followed by Benin, South Africa and Yemen.
Export of hom mali (jasmine rice) in August amounted to 152,865 tonnes, an increase of 15 per cent month on month. The United States was the biggest importer of hom mali rice at 27,531 tonnes, followed by Hong Kong and Singapore.
Charoen said the price of exported white rice in September had increased from August because of high domestic demand in the out-of-harvest season.
As of October 1, the price of Thai 5 per cent white rice was quoted at US$433 a tonne, while the Vietnam price was $440-$450, India’s was $420-$430, and Pakistan’s $405-$415 a tonne.
The association estimates that shipments in September were about 900,000 tonnes, because of continued high demand for white and parboiled rice. Thailand also has government-to-government rice-sale contracts with many countries such as to China, Indonesia and the Philippines.
