thai rice
- Thailand News
Thai rice enthusiasts in US could win a trip to Thailand
The Thai Trade Centre in New York launched a tantalising campaign, Love Thai Food, Eat Thai Rice, inviting food lovers across the United States to share their passion for Thai food on social media. The prize of a trip to Thailand worth up to US$5,000 (around 180,000 baht) is up for grabs. Ketsuree Vijaranakorn, Director of the Thai Trade Centre,…
- Business News
Thai-Philippine MoUs for rice exports worth 2.8 billion baht signed
The Commerce Ministry recently facilitated a significant trade development, leading a team of rice exporters to the Philippines and securing memorandums of understanding (MoUs) valued at 2.8 billion baht (US$77 million). Ronnarong Phoolpipat, Director-General of the Foreign Trade Department, headed the delegation, which included Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, during a visit from July 3 to…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s Half-Half fertiliser project aims to grow rice prices
The Thai government has launched the Half-Half Fertiliser project, aiming to improve rice prices for farmers while continuing the 1,000 baht per rai support scheme. The initiative is intended to help farmers in times of crisis and enhance rice quality. Thammanat Prompao, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, addressed criticisms of the Half-Half Fertiliser project at the Government House today.…
- Thailand News
Rice to the occasion: Decade-old rice sold for a steal
V8 Intertrading Ltd from Kamphaeng Phet Province triumphed in the high-stakes bid for 15,000 tonnes of decade-old jasmine rice. This controversial stock, a remnant of Yingluck Shinawatra’s scandal-ridden rice-pledging scheme, has been secured by V8 Intertrading for an astounding 286 million baht, averaging 19.07 baht per kilogramme. The Thai Rice Mills Association yesterday listed the price of 100% jasmine rice…
- Thailand News
Would you eat 10 year old rice? Activist demands court intervention
Prominent solo activist Srisuwan Janya approached the Central Administrative Court, seeking an urgent suspension of the Commerce Ministry’s plan to auction off approximately 15,000 tonnes of rice from the scandal-tainted rice pledging scheme of the Yingluck Shinawatra government. In his court petition, Srisuwan highlighted the concerns of numerous rice experts who oppose the auction. They argue that rice stored for…
- Thailand News
Panel to auction 15,000 tonnes of rice from Yingluck era
A dedicated panel has been established to manage the auction of 15,000 tonnes of rice remaining from the contentious rice-pledging scheme initiated during former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s tenure. This announcement came from Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The panel is set to draft the terms of reference (ToR) for the auction, with completion expected by the end of this month.…
- Thailand News
Fears mount as Thailand’s 10 year old rice set to hit Nigeria
Growing concerns and fears are emerging in Africa’s most populous country over the possibility of Thailand’s 10-year-old stored rice entering the Nigerian and African markets. This comes after the Thai government announced plans to sell it to the public, BusinessDay Nigeria has reported. Thailand plans to auction 150,000 sacks of rice that have been kept in warehouses for 10 years,…
- Thailand News
Thai govt plans to ‘rice’ to the occasion with decade-old grain auction
The Thai government expressed a strong intent to auction off the last remaining stocks of decade-old rice. This move is in line to replenish the state coffers, as made clear by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, in a recent Facebook post. The aged rice in question is part of the controversial rice-pledging scheme initiated during the administration…
- Thailand News
Ricegate scandal: 10 year old rice stockpile unsafe for consumption
The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) demanded rigorous quality and safety checks for a colossal 15,000 tonnes of jasmine rice, stockpiled since 2014 under the controversial rice-pledging scheme. The council, joined by an academic from Chiang Mai University, fears the rice may be laced with harmful chemicals, rendering it unfit for human or animal consumption. Deputy Chief of the TCC’s policies…
- Thailand News
Thai rice redemption price drops ahead of farming season
The upcoming farming season in Thailand, set to start this month, is witnessing a significant drop in the rice redemption price. This sharp decline, according to the Thai Agriculturist Association, is primarily due to market mechanisms and an oversupply of rice, particularly a Vietnamese variety. Agriculturist Association President Pramote Charoensilp noted that during the first crop season of the year,…
- Thailand News
Decade-old rice prompts questions about health risks
In an urgent call to the authorities, a rice specialist has sounded the alarm over the government’s plans to distribute a decade-old rice stockpile to the public, highlighting serious health risks. This comes in the wake of Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s inspection of two Surin province warehouses on March 14, where he declared the 10 year…
- Thailand News
Decade-old Thai rice from controversial scheme found fresh
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai conducted a rice inspection following an invitation from the Association of Thai Agricultural Product Surveyors. The association, keen to dispel allegations regarding the quality of rice held under the contentious rice-pledging scheme, orchestrated an eventful visit to warehouses owned by Poonpon Trading Ltd and Kittichai Ltd in different districts of the northeastern…
- Business News
Vietnam’s rice exports projected to decline amid quality shift
A downward shift is projected for Vietnam’s rice exports in the current year, with estimates ranging between 6.5 and 7.0 million metric tonnes. This is a noticeable drop from the previous year’s record high of 8.1 million tonnes, as reported by the Vietnam Food Association. Vietnam, ranking third globally in rice exports after Thailand and India, indicated a strategic shift…
- Business News
Thai rice exporters stir in choppy waters as challenges loom ahead
Rice exporters in Thailand are bracing for a challenging year ahead due to a host of risk factors, including fluctuating exchange rates, waning competitiveness of Thai rice, fierce price competition, the potential impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon, and India’s restrictive export policies, as reported by the Thai Rice Exporters Association. The association’s honorary president, Chookiat Ophaswongse, referred to…
- Business News
Thailand’s rice exports expected to drop 14.4% amid global competition
A projected drop of 14.4% in Thailand’s rice exports is anticipated for this year, due to a combination of reduced production and increased global competition, as reported by the Foreign Trade Department. The department’s director-general, Ronnarong Phoolpipat, revealed that the estimate of 7.5 million tonnes of rice exports this year was jointly made with the Thai Rice Exporters Association. This…
- Thailand News
German president visits rice fields in Isaan and North Thailand
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier embarked on a journey to Thailand’s rice fields in Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Rai. The two Thai provinces boast over 4.2 million rai of rice fields. President Steinmeier and his delegation paid a visit to the Suan Ta Rom Demonstration Farm in Trakan Phuet Phon district, Ubon Ratchathani. The 35-rai (56,000 square metres) integrated farmland showcased…
- Business News
Thai ministry propels rice trade growth with G2G agreements
The Ministry of Commerce in Thailand is set to discuss the potential sale of a massive 1 million tonnes of rice to Indonesia tomorrow, under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement. This comes with a commitment to further engage in similar discussions about rice sales with China. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai revealed that the head of the Foreign Trade Department has been…
- Thailand News
Rice-rumble rocks markets: Thailand anticipates 15% export dip, global repercussions loom
In a rice-rumble that could shake global markets, Thailand’s rice exports are poised to plunge by a staggering 15% this year. Thailand, the rice heavyweight, is set to face a double whammy. Chookiat Ophaswongse, the honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, predicts a dip in demand from Indonesia, last year’s top buyer. “Indonesia, after its presidential election next…
- Thailand News
Thai rice purity at risk due to popularity of foreign strains
Thai rice finds itself in a perilous position as the purity of its strains is at risk due to the rising popularity of foreign rice strains smuggled from neighbouring countries, warns the nation’s agriculture minister, Thammanat Prompow. Speaking at the annual Thai rice conference organised by the Thai Rice Foundation Under Royal Patronage, Thammanat expressed his worries about the future…
- Thailand News
Thai farmers warned against smuggling uncertified Vietnamese rice strains
Thailand‘s Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Captain Thamanat Prompow, cautioned local farmers against cultivating or smuggling uncertified Vietnamese rice strains. The warning, issued yesterday, December 8, comes in light of potential complaints from Vietnam, which could negatively impact Thailand’s reputation and bilateral relations. Despite the higher yield per area of Vietnamese rice strains providing increased income for farmers, the minister emphasised the…
- Thailand News
Sticky rice bonanza: Thai community in Nakhon Phanom cashes in on Khao Mao harvest
The annual rice harvest has proven to be a golden opportunity for the Thai community in Nakhon Phanom in northeastern Thailand. This is especially true for a group of people who are making a substantial income by producing and selling traditional sticky rice known as Khao Mao. This business generates several million baht every year. One such group is led…
- Business News
El Niño effect forecasted to lower Thai rice production in 2023-24
The Agricultural Economics Office of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry in Thailand forecasted a decline in rice production for the 2023-24 harvest season. The expected drop is approximately 871,000 tonnes, a decrease of 3.27%, totalling 25.8 million tonnes. This significant decrease is primarily due to the effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon. Deputy Secretary-General of the Agricultural Economics Department,…
- Business News
Thai rice body urges government to focus on new rice strains
The Thai Rice Exporters Association is calling on the new government to avoid manipulating rice market prices and instead focus on the strategic production of new rice varieties. Chookiat Ophaswongse, the association’s honorary president, emphasised the importance of developing new rice strains to maintain competitiveness with other exporting nations. “This is crucial for the future of Thai rice. Following roadshows…
- Thailand News
Rice prices spike threatens farmers in Thailand
An increase in rice prices is causing concern for local farmers and rice millers in Uttradit, Thailand. The Agricultural Cooperative of Uttradit City Limited, known for producing and selling the “Good Udom” brand of bagged rice, is currently facing a shortage of husked rice. This crisis is due to large-scale rice millers purchasing at high rates, causing the price of…
- Economy News
Global rice trade shook by El Nino, politics, and embargo in Thailand
In the face of mounting global food security concerns, the impact of El Niño weather patterns and international political disruptions are causing serious upheavals in the farming landscape, particularly in major global rice-producing countries. Compounding the issue is Russia’s recent withdrawal from a vital agreement, which previously ensured the uninterrupted transport of Ukrainian grain goods through the Black Sea region.…
- Thailand News
Lost in translation: Foreign women turn Thai rice steamers into hilarious hats
Thai netizens expressed their admiration and laughed at two foreign women who mistook Thai-style bamboo sticky rice steamers for hats. They bought them from a local vendor who could not communicate very well due to the language barrier. A Thai man named Surat Seehabut shared pictures of the two European women wearing hats which looked like weaving baskets. The caption…
- Business News
Global Thai rice export forecast to surpass 8 million tonnes
The appeal for Thai rice continues to be significant globally, with both Indonesia and Bangladesh expressing their aspirations to buy the grain through G2G or government-to-government contracts. Ronnarong Phoolpipat, head of the Foreign Trade Department, stated that the immense global demand for Thai rice is likely to boost exports to surpass 8 million tonnes this year. The department has plans…
