Rice exports face mounting headwinds
Thailand's rice exports are expected to miss the target of 7 million tonnes this year, even as shipments to Asian markets surge.
Rice exports from Thailand are facing headwinds, with the country expected to miss its target of 7 million tonnes this year. Despite a surge in shipments to Asian markets, exports totalled 4.99 million tonnes from January to September 2026, valued at US$2.96 billion. While shipments to Asian markets have expanded significantly, with Malaysia importing its highest volume of Thai rice in 20 years and the Philippines increasing imports by 263% year-on-year, other regions such as Iraq and Indonesia have seen reduced rice imports due to the war in the Middle East and Indonesia's efforts to increase domestic consumption.
Thailand's efforts to accelerate rice exports include organising trade missions and participating in trade exhibitions, but challenges such as tariffs, high inflation, and weak demand have impacted exports to key markets like the US and Japan.
Brief written by urgent.news from Bangkok Post Business's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
