Thailand tops India as top exporter to Iraqi rice market

Thailand has become the top exporter of rice to Iraq since last year replacing India but Tehran is reportedly buying Thai rice due to currency problems it is facing. 

Iraq imports of rice will likely increase to 2.2 million tonnes (mt) this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said. 

Shipments of rice into Tehran from India was over 27 per cent during January-April this year, but Thailand accounted for 57 per cent of the 8.15 lakh tonnes imported during the period. 

Bouncing back

Since 2022, Thailand has become the main supplier to Iraq after losing market share to India and Vietnam since 2014, the USDA said. “Iraq has reduced its purchases of Indian rice due to consumer preference of non-fragrant white rice from Thailand,” it said.  

Bangkok Post quoted Ronnarong Phoolpipat, Director-General of the Thai Foreign Trade Department, as saying that Iraq was the…