Trip by Hong Kong importers lands Thailand 81,200 tonnes rice export orders

Kirati Ratchano, permanent secretary at the Commerce Ministry, said the ministry had organised a trip for 34 major rice importers from Hong Kong from November 21 to 24.

The trip was a proactive strategy of the ministry as instructed by Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit to expand rice exports to Hong Kong, Kirati said.

He said the trip secured initial orders of 81,200 tonnes of jasmine rice worth 2.7 billion baht and also provided good opportunities for Thai rice exporters to meet the Hong Kong importers for further trade negotiations.

“As a result, sales of Thai rice to Hong Kong should improve next year,” Kirati said.

He said Hong Kong has reopened to foreign tourists after the Covid-19 pandemic, so the consumption of Thai rice was expected to increase to the pre-Covid level soon.

According to the Commerce Ministry, Hong Kong is Thailand’s fifth largest rice export market. Last year, Thailand exported 174,932 tonnes of rice to Hong Kong worth US$158.04 million.

The ministry said Hong Kong people like to eat new-crop rice, which constitutes 80 per cent of rice imported from Thailand. The ministry said each Hong Kong resident consumes about 44 kilograms of rice per year and Thailand was behind the United States for rice exports to Hong Kong in term of quantity.

Apart from organising the trip, Kirati said the Commerce Ministry has also been using soft power to promote the image of Thai rice by seeking help from Hong Kong entertainers and influencers. The campaign is aimed at promoting the recognition of Thai Hom Mali Rice Certification Mark for Hong Kong people to recognise that packages with the mark are premium quality rice.

Chananpas Pisalapipong, the director of the foreign trade promotion office in Hong Kong, said the trip by Hong Kong rice importers and the visit by an official Hong Kong delegation during the Apec Summit on November 18-19 provided good opportunities for Thai exporters to try to secure export deals to Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Siribut Ungphakorn, director of rice trade management division of the Foreign Trade Department, said Hong Kong rice importers have also expressed interest in a healthier strain of jasmine rice, especially the RD (Rice Department) 43 strain. She said the RD43 hom mali rice is soft and is much lower on the glycemic index.

She said Hong Kong importers had also expressed interest in the Riceberry strain, which is good for consumers who have health concerns.