The Thai Ministry of Commerce announced a plan to boost rice exports after shipments declined by 19.26% year-on-year during the first nine months of 2026, amid reduced sales to Iraq and increasing competition from India, as well as tensions in the Middle East and rising transportation costs.
The Thai newspaper "The Nation" reported, which was reviewed by "Video News Agency," that Thailand exported 4.99 million tons of rice from January to September 2026, compared to the same period last year, while export revenues fell by 16.84% to reach $2.962 billion.
Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Commerce, Ponporn Niyomkarn, stated that increased purchases of Thai rice by the Philippines and Malaysia partially helped offset the decline in sales to Iraq, as both countries are moving towards increasing their purchases in preparation for the risks posed by the El Niño phenomenon and to enhance their food security.
He added that shipments of Thai rice to Iraq have sharply declined since the beginning of this year due to tensions in the Middle East, noting that some shipments are still reaching Iraq via Turkey, but rising transportation costs have limited the quantities exported.
Thai rice exports are facing strong competition from India, given the abundance of crops and high stocks, while the expected entry of the Pakistani rice crop into the markets by the end of 2026 is likely to increase competitive pressures.
As part of its plan to regain markets, the Thai Ministry of Commerce intends to conduct direct talks with major rice importers in the Philippines, Japan, and South Africa, along with accelerating government-to-government sales agreements and organizing an international rice conference to enhance communication between exporters and importers.
The ministry is also working to address the labor shortages at ports, following complaints from the Thai Rice Exporters Association about the lack of workers for cargo handling and loading, an issue that may affect shipping and export operations.
Thai authorities expect to maintain an export target of 7 million tons of rice during 2027, with a reassessment of expectations at the end of the current year, in light of developments related to the El Niño phenomenon and tensions in the Middle East.
In an indication of rising prices, the average export price of broken Thai white rice rose to $482 per ton in September 2026, an increase of 5% from August, and 28.88% compared to $374 per ton in September 2025.