2013 Thai rice exports miss target: Foreign Trade Dept

[webfact]

2013 rice exports miss target: Foreign Trade Dept
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 27 - The Thai Ministry of Commerce's Foreign Trade Department conceded Thursday that rice exports this year missed the target but expected the volume of rice exports could reach 8-10 million tonnes next year.

Foreign Trade Department director general Surasak Riangkrul said Thailand exported only 6.4 million tonnes of rice this year, below the target of 8-8.5 million tonnes due to the higher price of Thai rice when compared with competing varieties from other countries as well as the decline in their rice imports as a result of natural disasters.

From January through December 16, Thailand exported total 6.4 million tonnes of rice. The country earned some Bt4.2 billion, at an average of Bt657 million a tonne.

Mr Susasak said his department has targeted to export up to 8-10 million tonnes of Thai rice next year.

He said Thailand has attempted to maintain the country's rice quality and standards, while increasing market share to Africa and other markets. He added that the higher price should not affect the distribution process as the quality of Thai rice is in better grade. Thailand also seeks varied channels to expedite rice sales.

The director general expressed optimism that Thailand would get through the current political turmoil. However, He said rice distribution under the government-to-government contracts is now suspended until the new government is elected. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-27

[Costas2008]

Nooooooooooo........can't be true.

The government insured us that exports will exceed target this year!

Must be a printing mistake.

[Scamper]

The rice scheme is an international joke. There is one reason and one reason only why the international community is sidestepping Thai rice - the price, and that is because of the Thaksin subsidy scheme, that he absolutely needs in place to secure the northern vote. Pure and simple. So the administration's line is that price has nothing to do with competing markets ? And this person has a job running the department ? And he says that exporting will greatly improve next year because the quality of Thai rice is so good. How will it be better ? So why is Thai rice sitting in large storage areas because it can't be sold ? Quality not good ? Or price too high ? I'm sure Vietnam - who has now surged forward, ahead of Thailand in the rice export market - they must be trembling in their boots at this announcement.

[Ricardo]

2013 Thai rice exports miss target

No shit, Sherlock !

But of course this wasn't due, to the crazy policy imposed from afar, by the 'real' PM & strategic-thinker ? Who remains in charge.

[Mosha]

Suthep will no doubt be blamed for this as well.

[JRSoul]

.............the volume of rice exports could reach 8-10 million tonnes next year. And miss Thailand could show up at my place with a case of Chang wanting a bit of horizontal folk-dancing. Which has the higher odds?

[PaulHamon]

They missed the mark by 20-25% this year... sounds like a lot.

[slapout]

Well that is a new world record for rice income per ton, if as quoted, they receivedt 657 million baht per ton. Where is the Commerce Ministry is all of this, they have been throwing out numbers, promises and now they seem to have found a place to hide out, out of sight, out of the publics mind????? This seems to be the thinking of most of this 'caretaking' government.

Guess they do not believe the old addage, "you can run from, but you can not hide from truth/justice"

[MaxLee]

2013 rice exports miss target: Foreign Trade Dept

What's the point in telling the world and your taxpayers, what we already know????

[scorecard]

Nooooooooooo........can't be true.

The government insured us that exports will exceed target this year!

Must be a printing mistake.

But never mind, the government has promised that it will all be OK next year, so don't worry, not al all.

[JRSoul]

Well that is a new world record for rice income per ton, if as quoted, they receivedt 657 million baht per ton. Where is the Commerce Ministry is all of this, they have been throwing out numbers, promises and now they seem to have found a place to hide out, out of sight, out of the publics mind????? This seems to be the thinking of most of this 'caretaking' government.

Guess they do not believe the old addage, "you can run from, but you can not hide from truth/justice"

The typo might be there to hide the ugly truth. B4.2 billion divided by 6.4 million tonnes is B657 PER TONNE. And how much did they pay for it?

[TallPalm]

Bt657 million a tonne? Someone has seriously miscalculated... http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=rice&months=60&currency=thb

[marcusd]

The rice scheme is an international joke. There is one reason and one reason only why the international community is sidestepping Thai rice - the price, and that is because of the Thaksin subsidy scheme, that he absolutely needs in place to secure the northern vote. Pure and simple. So the administration's line is that price has nothing to do with competing markets ? And this person has a job running the department ? And he says that exporting will greatly improve next year because the quality of Thai rice is so good. How will it be better ? So why is Thai rice sitting in large storage areas because it can't be sold ? Quality not good ? Or price too high ? I'm sure Vietnam - who has now surged forward, ahead of Thailand in the rice export market - they must be trembling in their boots at this announcement.

He is running this department.

....and yingluck runs the government. Easy to see how all this happens right?

[gabruce]

.............the volume of rice exports could reach 8-10 million tonnes next year. And miss Thailand could show up at my place with a case of Chang wanting a bit of horizontal folk-dancing. Which has the higher odds?

Well rice exports won't reach 8-10 million tonnes next year, so do you think that you could give me a call when Miss Thailand shows up with the beer?

[gabruce]

Bt657 million a tonne? Someone has seriously miscalculated... http://www.indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=rice&months=60&currency=thb

Yes. I suspect they meant US$. I think most of the exported rice was the best quality Thai rice which sells for more than the government would pay, so it was still exported. Averaging out the low quality and low cost rice the government sells, a figure of 657US$ per tonne might be correct? Please note that I have no numbers to back this up. Pure speculation. FYI. Current rice from http://oryza.com/ are interesting. 92% Thai Hommali is 960=970US$/tonne, other prices show better quality thai rice in the middle price range of other countries lower quality rice. (ie 100% good vs 5% broken). If I was a farmer I would want to figure out how to grow Indian Basmati rice here.

[Chicken George]

Just wait till Burmese rice exports pick up. They are rising fast and remember they were the biggest exporters in the world in the 60,s

[Thai at Heart]

Just wait till Burmese rice exports pick up. They are rising fast and remember they were the biggest exporters in the world in the 60,s

And ironically it will probably be the thai companies front and centre selling it.

[Robby nz]

A couple of quotes from outside agencies :

25/11 The latest rice report from the US Agriculture Department shows prices for most grades of Thailand's high- and medium-quality regular-milled white rice has declined by 6-8% over the past two months.

5/12 The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Wednesday that the price of Thai 5% broken white rice, an Asian benchmark, tumbled 23% to US$450 (14,400 baht) a ton this year.

Thai authorities willingness to accept sales at a loss were enough to weigh heavily on market sentiment, said the Rome-based agency.

Willingness to accept a loss weighed heavily on market sentiment.

Translation into non diplomatic language : Other rice exporting countries are highly pissed off with Thailand.

[Ulic]

Is anyone surprised, really.

[SOTIRIOS]

The rice scheme is an international joke. There is one reason and one reason only why the international community is sidestepping Thai rice - the price, and that is because of the Thaksin subsidy scheme, that he absolutely needs in place to secure the northern vote. Pure and simple. So the administration's line is that price has nothing to do with competing markets ? And this person has a job running the department ? And he says that exporting will greatly improve next year because the quality of Thai rice is so good. How will it be better ? So why is Thai rice sitting in large storage areas because it can't be sold ? Quality not good ? Or price too high ? I'm sure Vietnam - who has now surged forward, ahead of Thailand in the rice export market - they must be trembling in their boots at this announcement.

...well...have you seen whom they are passing off as a Prime Minister.....'leader of the country'......Defense Minister.......

[nong38]

Not again! What jolly bad luck, the farmers will have wait a bit longer for their cut. Better luck next year eh?

[Halion]

A 25% shortfall in what used to be a valued major export commodity for this country.

Well done Yingluck not only has this hair brained scheme which was put in place to appease and secure the votes of you loyal rural following failed the country .It has also failed the farmers who are still waiting to get paid. Perhaps the may think twice before voting for the PTP lest they shoot themselves in the foot for a second time.

[tomacht8]

Ludicrously

”The country earned some Bt4.2 billion”

That is wrong!!!!

The country has LOST in two years:

795.981.160.000 Baht!

686.000.000.000 Starting this §$% Rice Scheme Scam

+ 180.000.000.000 Returning money from rice sales

+ 60.000.000.000 New planed bond injection

= 926.000.000.000 disbursed

- 130.000.000.000 Stockpile value at best (Assumption of 25% are rotten)

- 14.745.000 Bank fees BAAC 2012

- 4.095.000 Bank fees BAAC 2013

= 795.981.160.000 Money lost in greedy stupidity

The country needs investments in education (modernization of all public schools), health (modernization of state hospitals),
drinking water supply, road safety and natural ressources conservation.

I wish the head of the state would lock all these selfish, greedy, dishonest, corrupt people in the prison.

[DoctorG]

So, their answer to a 25% shortfall this year, is to raise next year's target by a further 25%?

[timewilltell]

Just the bleeding obvious - Thailand bleeds to finance the next election - is it so hard to understand for foreign journalists?