Bangkok: The Department of Internal Trade has disclosed a notable shift in the prices of key agricultural products, highlighting the influence of market mechanisms and international competition.

According to Thai News Agency, the price of rice has decreased to 7,800 baht per cart, mainly due to competition from India, which exports rice at 300 US dollars per cart. Meanwhile, the export prices of durians have shown improvement, especially for Grade A exports, which have risen to 130 baht per kilogram.

Mr. Witthayakorn Maneenet, Director-General of the Department, announced that durians from the eastern provinces of Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat have reached 78% of the market, amounting to 680,000 tons. Discussions with the Chinese commercial attach© confirmed that there are no significant inspection issues for durian exports to China, resulting in increased prices for Grades A and B durians during the week of May 19-25, 2025. Other fruits, such as mangosteen and rambutan, have also seen substantial market releases, with promising export prices. However, mango prices have declined due to adverse weather conditions, despite new opportunities for mango-based products in international markets.

The Department is also addressing the palm oil sector, with 8.4 million tons released into the market. Measures are in place to assist farmers in selling their produce more efficiently and to stabilize palm oil prices through increased biodiesel usage. For dry season rice, which is 90% harvested, the government has introduced measures to support farmers financially and promote domestic consumption. However, the price of white rice remains low compared to last year due to competition from India. Efforts are underway to reduce production costs and develop competitive rice varieties for the global market.