thai rice

  • Business NewsGrain expectations: Thailand ‘rices’ to occasion with export boost

    Grain expectations: Thailand ‘rices’ to occasion with export boost

    Thailand is on track to bolster its rice exports to 9 million tonnes this year, potentially generating 230 billion baht (US$6.4 billion), according to the Commerce Ministry. This optimistic projection follows the country’s successful export of 7.45 million tonnes in the first nine months, already yielding 172 billion baht (US$4.95 billion) in revenue. This marks a notable year-on-year increase of…

  • Thailand NewsBio-cement project launched to combat soil salinity in Thailand

    Bio-cement project launched to combat soil salinity in Thailand

    King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) and the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) have launched an innovative project to address agricultural issues caused by soil salinity in northeastern Thailand using bio-cement. Thidarat Bunsri, part of the Smart Biomaterials and Technology Research Group at KMUTT, explained that bio-cement is created through microbial-induced calcium carbonate. The key organic compound in this process…

  • Business NewsRice to the occasion: Thai prices drop as India returns to the market

    Rice to the occasion: Thai prices drop as India returns to the market

    Thai white rice prices have started to fall after India decided to resume non-basmati white rice exports. Despite this development, this year’s rice export volume remains unaffected, according to Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association. Chookiat stated that on September 28, the Indian government lifted a ban on non-basmati white rice exports that had been in…

  • Thailand NewsRice Department fraudsters cook up fake seed sales online

    Rice Department fraudsters cook up fake seed sales online

    The Rice Department’s Facebook page highlighted an increase in online scams. Fraudsters are using fake pages to impersonate legitimate businesses, luring victims to purchase rice seeds and disappearing after receiving payments. The Rice Department’s Facebook page revealed that scammers have created a fake page named Phantawee Mall Corporation, falsely using images and names of Rice Department officials to build trust.…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s golden rice grain faces storm from strong baht and India

    Thailand’s golden rice grain faces storm from strong baht and India

    Thailand’s rice exports are teetering on the edge of crisis with looming threats from a strong baht and potential policy changes in India. The Thai Rice Exporters Association has cast a shadow over next year’s outlook, predicting exports might flop below the eight million tonnes mark. Chookiat Ophaswongse, the association’s honorary president, revealed the unsettling news despite unabated flooding wreaking…

  • Thailand NewsThai rice prices fall in a grainy twist as Indonesian bids drop

    Thai rice prices fall in a grainy twist as Indonesian bids drop

    Thai rice prices plunged to their lowest levels in over a year as Indonesian bidders were compelled to lower their high prices in a recent auction. Meanwhile, Indian rice export prices continued their downward trend, reaching an eight-month low. Indian 5% broken parboiled rice was priced at US$534 (around 17,000 baht) per tonne this week, marking the lowest level since…

  • Thailand NewsThailand rice is on the rise with global GI glamour

    Thailand rice is on the rise with global GI glamour

    The Thailand Rice Department is on a mission to put Thai rice in the global spotlight by promoting its distinctive strains with certified Geographical Indication (GI) labels to a wider audience. Farming communities in Phatthalung and Trang in the south, along with Phayao in the north, have crafted premium rice products that command top prices. These farmers are betting on…

  • Thailand NewsThailand Department of Rice aids northern farmers after floods

    Thailand Department of Rice aids northern farmers after floods

    Thailand’s Department of Rice, in collaboration with three rice associations, has donated survival bags and over 50 tonnes of rice to assist northern farmers affected by recent floods. Recent floods have ravaged the northern provinces of Phayao, Nan, Chiang Rai, and Phrae, leading to extensive damage to homes and farmlands. This disaster has severely impacted the agricultural sector in these…

  • Thailand NewsThai rice enthusiasts in US could win a trip to Thailand

    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 NewsThai-Philippine MoUs for rice exports worth 2.8 billion baht signed

    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 NewsThailand’s Half-Half fertiliser project aims to grow rice prices

    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 NewsRice to the occasion: Decade-old rice sold for a steal

    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 NewsWould you eat 10 year old rice? Activist demands court intervention

    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 NewsPanel to auction 15,000 tonnes of rice from Yingluck era

    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 NewsFears mount as Thailand’s 10 year old rice set to hit Nigeria

    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 NewsThai govt plans to ‘rice’ to the occasion with decade-old grain auction

    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 NewsRicegate scandal: 10 year old rice stockpile unsafe for consumption

    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 NewsThai rice redemption price drops ahead of farming season

    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 NewsDecade-old rice prompts questions about health risks

    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 NewsDecade-old Thai rice from controversial scheme found fresh

    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 NewsVietnam’s rice exports projected to decline amid quality shift

    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 NewsThai rice exporters stir in choppy waters as challenges loom ahead

    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 NewsThailand’s rice exports expected to drop 14.4% amid global competition

    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 NewsGerman president visits rice fields in Isaan and North Thailand

    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 NewsThai ministry propels rice trade growth with G2G agreements

    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 NewsRice-rumble rocks markets: Thailand anticipates 15% export dip, global repercussions loom

    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 NewsThai rice purity at risk due to popularity of foreign strains

    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 NewsThai farmers warned against smuggling uncertified Vietnamese rice strains

    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 NewsSticky rice bonanza: Thai community in Nakhon Phanom cashes in on Khao Mao harvest

    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 NewsEl Niño effect forecasted to lower Thai rice production in 2023-24

    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,…