Thailand’s rice exports increase in both numbers, value

Thailand exported 2.46 tonnes of rice in the first quarter of this year, up 19.4% from the same period last year, according to Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

The export value for the January-March period is estimated at THB56.73 billion ($1.61 billion), a 49% increase.

However, the country’s rice exports in March were 10.4% lower than in February, with 716,619 tonnes, worth THB17.33 billion, compared to 800,225 tonnes, worth THB18.53 billion in February.

Exports of Hom Mali fragrant rice in March decreased by 4.5% from February, with 109,448 tonnes being exported to main markets, including the US, Hong Kong (China), Singapore, Canada, China, the UK and Australia.

Thailand expects to ship abroad about 800,000 tonnes of all types of rice in April, as exporters still have commitments to fulfil their supply contracts to buyers in ASEAN, Japan, some African countries such as Angola, Mozambique and Ivory Coast, and Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq.

In the first quarter, India still ranked as the world’s largest rice exporter, with 4.3 million tonnes, 28.1% less than the same period last year. It was followed by Thailand with 2.46 million tonnes, Vietnam with 2.18 million tonnes and Pakistan with 1.98 million tonnes.