In the first quarter of 2025, Thailand’s rice exports reportedly fell 30% to 2.1 million tonnes, prompting plans to lower the projected 2025 export target.
Exports in 2024 have increased 13% to 9.95 million tonnes, the highest since 2018.
Thailand’s total exports in 2024 are expected to rise 27% to US$6.434 billion, driven by strong global demand and reliance on Indian rice.
The decline in rice production in 2025 is due to US President Donald Trump’s trade war, higher rice prices, and the resumption of Indian rice exports.
The Ministry of Commerce and the Thai Rice Exporters Association have set an export target of 7.5 million tonnes in 2025.
The rate of decline is also due to the reduced purchasing power of Philippine importers and continued Indian exports.
In addition, competition from India and Vietnam has caused Malaysia, the Philippines and South Africa to switch to India due to cheaper prices.
Thailand's Ministry of Commerce has stepped up efforts to negotiate rice sales to importers, including a mission to South Africa that successfully sold 400,000 tonnes.
The department will also hold the 10th Thai Rice Convention on 26 May 2025 with 500 participants and panel discussions to promote Thai rice.
Overall, between 1 January and 18 April 2025, profits fell 19.31% with exports of 2.477 million tonnes.
