BANGKOK, 17 June 2012 – Mr. Boonsong Teriyapirom, Minister of Commerce, was firm in stating that Thailand would not lose its place as the world’s number one exporter of rice.
This assertion comes in the face of concern over the increasing prices of Thai rice. It is believed these rising prices may cause trade partners to import more rice from Vietnam and India.
Thai rice, however, is of high quality and can be sold at a premium price, thus mitigating the fact that export numbers are down.
The price of Thai rice for export is higher than that during the same time period last year. The price is USD 100 higher, at USD 670 per ton. The minister of commerce is certain that export numbers will rise in the later half of the year. Export numbers have been affected by the Eurozone debt crisis, but rice is still a food staple, and has seen less of an impact.
In the past five months, Thailand has already exported 3.17 tons of rice, worth over USD 2 billion.
