Thailand bumped down to 4th as global rice exporter
Thai rice exports for January totalled 421,477 tonnes, dropping 23.2 per cent from the same period last year, the Thai Rice Exporters Association reported on Tuesday.
The total export value for January was Bt7.82 billion, down 16.2 per cent year on year.
“Thai rice exports for the whole of 2020 totalled 5.72 million tonnes, a decrease of 24.5 per cent year on year. The export total value for 2020 was Bt115.9 billion, down 11.2 per cent year on year,” said the association. “This makes Thailand the fourth largest rice exporter after India, Vietnam and Pakistan.”
In 2019, Thailand was the world’s second-largest rice exporter behind India.
Major factors hindering rice exports last year were the shipping container shortage and rising ocean freight charges, said the association. “Furthermore, Thai rice prices are higher than those of competitors, prompting customers to buy cheaper alternatives,” it added.
Meanwhile, white rice exports in January dropped 6.9 per cent from December, while export of steamed rice rose 2.8 per cent, and export of jasmine rice plummeted 32.8 per cent.
“We estimate that Thai rice exports in February will total 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes, mostly from ongoing contracts with clients in Africa, Asia and America,” said the association. “We do not expect to see many new orders in the coming months, as the baht is still showing a tendency to strengthen.”
