Thailand is one of the world’s most important producers of rice, which forms the chief staple of its peoples’ diet, as well as being a major export. After two poor drought-plagued years of production, the country is heading for a big crop just as, it is hoped, recovery from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic sets in and tourists start to return to the country’s hotels and restaurants. Wheat production is small, leaving the milling sector dependent on imports.
The International Grains Council (IGC) puts Thailand’s total grains output in 2020-21 at 5.4 million tonnes, compared with 5.3 million last year. The figure includes 5.3 million tonnes of maize, up from 5.2 million in 2019-20 as well as 100,000 tonnes of sorghum, a figure unchanged from the previous year.
Thailand’s total grains imports in 2020-21 are put at 4.8 million tonnes, compared with 4.7 million the…
