Thailand still retains champion of rice exports

BANGKOK: -- Thailand still retains its status as the world’s largest exporter of rice in terms of volume and value with Vietnam coming second, according to the International Trade Department.

Rachaen Pojanasunthorn, the department’s director-general, on Monday shrugged off a mounting concern that Thailand would be outpaced by Vietnam in terms of rice exports, saying the rice exports in the first quarter of this year reaching 1.79 million tons worth US$569 or 22.64 billion baht. An average price of the exported rice is $317 per ton.

He was confident the export volume and value would continue to increase. Its volume for this year is expected to reach a target of 7.5 million tons, up 2.7 per cent from that of last year.

Vietnam set a target to export 5 million tons of rice this year, down from 5.28 million tons last year. In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam had already exported 1.1 million tones of rice.

Because of this, Thailand and Vietnam still retained the world’s first and second rankings as major rice exporters.

He said Thailand and Vietnam had managed to forge ahead the rice trade cooperation smoothly and concretely.

At present, an average Vietnamese rice price is around $20-40 per ton lower than that of Thai rice since Vietnam still has rice quality and inventory problems.

Both countries agreed to promote cooperation between the private sectors, he said, adding that Thai exporters would be invited to explore joint investment opportunities for the rice trade in Vietnam so that they could help improve the quality and inventory system of rice in the country.

With the cooperation, prices of rice of both countries would stabilize and move in the same direction in the world market, he added.

Mr. Rachaen conceded the strengthening of the baht would have an impact on the rice exports, but only in a short run.

--TNA 2006-04-24

Thailand is the worlds largest rice exporter.

Thailand is also one of the worlds most innefficient rice growers,

with production of only 2.7 tonnes per hectare, far below

China and Vietnam. and almost half the yields

achieved in north and central America.

Naka.

Edited April 25, 200620 yr by naka