Bangkok: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is accelerating efforts to enhance rice exports in response to fierce competition from India and a global market surplus.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Foreign Trade has reported a significant decline in Thai rice exports during the first five months of 2025, with a drop of over 25% due to increased global production and competition. In response, the department is preparing an aggressive market promotion plan for the latter half of the year, focusing on promoting Thai organic rice online to maintain export potential amid the trade war and global economic volatility.
Mrs. Arada Fuangthong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, emphasized the department's mission to promote the export of key agricultural products and support Thai entrepreneurs in adapting to the challenging global economic climate. Between January and May 2025, Thailand exported 3.05 million tons of rice, a decrease of 25.61% compared to the same period last year. The export value also fell by 34.03%, amounting to 63,098 million baht (approximately 1,878 million US dollars).
Several factors contributed to the decline in rice exports, including increased world rice production due to favorable weather conditions, with global output expected to reach 541 million tons. Additionally, India resumed full-scale exports, bolstered by a production of over 150 million tons and rice stocks exceeding 60 million tons, enabling competitive pricing. Furthermore, import demand from key trading partners, particularly Indonesia, saw a significant reduction.
Despite these challenges, Thailand has maintained its rice export market base in various regions. The main importing countries in the first five months included Iraq, the United States, South Africa, and China, which saw varying degrees of increase, while exports to the Philippines decreased substantially.
Regionally, Africa remains the largest market for Thai rice exports, although the volume decreased by 11.01%. The Asian market saw the most significant decline, while the European market experienced growth, followed by expansions in America and the Middle East.
To navigate the intense competition and sustain export levels in the second half of 2025, the Department has outlined a comprehensive marketing and public relations strategy. This includes organizing trade delegations to negotiate market expansion and promoting Thai rice at international exhibitions. Efforts also involve organizing the mobile Thailand Rice Convention (TRC) 2025 and leveraging online platforms to promote Thai organic rice globally.
Mrs. Arada reiterated the department's commitment to implementing these plans to enhance the competitiveness of Thai rice and foster sustainable trade growth amid the increasingly complex global market landscape.