Thailand’s rice exports for January were at 805,519 tonnes, up 75.2% from a year earlier, helped by year-end orders, higher demand from the Middle East and a weak baht currency, the Commerce Ministry said on Monday.
The value of rice exports rose 78.76% to 14.28 billion baht ($406.72 million) in January year-on-year, Ronnarong Phoolpipat, head of the ministry’s foreign trade department, told a news conference.
“Rice exports in January increased by a shocking rate,” he said, adding the ministry’s trade promotion efforts also helped.
He singled out “an opportunity to export further” to the Middle East given some Arab nations’ high purchasing power and low agricultural output.
The region was the only growing market for Thai rice in the last year, taking 2.02 million tonnes of rice, or 26% of total rice shipments, Mr Ronnarong said.
In 2021, Thailand shipped out only…
