BANGKOK, Sept 3 – Thailand’s rice exports this year dropped 5.1 per cent in volume and 5.6 per cent in value from January to July, compared to the same period last year, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
Five major importers of Thai rice were Iraq at 576,494 tonnes, Benin at 442,776 tonnes, the US at 218,709 tonnes, Japan at 206,223 tonnes and the Ivory Coast at 193,585 tonnes.
Rice exports increased significantly in July compared to June thanks to higher deliveries of rice to Iraq and Iran, and parboiled rice to Benin and South Africa.
Thailand has maintained steady and continuous exports to major markets such as the US, Hong Kong, Ghana and Ivory Coast, the association said.
Thai rice was about US$60/tonne higher than that of competitors. Five per cent rice is sold by Vietnam at US$380-390/tonne, by India at US$410-420/tonne, by Pakistan at US$400-410/tonne, and by Thailand at US$442/tonne.
Rice stockpiles in India and Vietnam remain abundant and the two countries have continued to export their grain while buyers have stocked sufficient rice for a period and slowed their purchases, pending adjusted prices in the global market.
The association predicted that Thailand’s rice exports in August should reach around 550,000 tonnes thanks to declining prices which has narrowed the price gap between Thailand and other competing countries.
The major markets for Thailand’s fragrant rice are the US, Ivory Coast and Hong Kong, while white rice is mainly exported to Iraq, Iran and Japan, and parboiled rice is shipped to Benin, South Africa and Yemen.
