G2G rice export reaches record high this year



BANGKOK: -- Thailand's sale of rice on government-to-government or G2G contracts this year reached record high with 3.5 million tons worth 50 billion baht exported.

At the same time, the commerce minister assured of good prices for Thai Jasmine rice while dismissed speculation it will fall to as low as 7,000 baht per ton.

Commerce Minister Mrs Apiradi Tantraporn said the average price of jasmine rice during 2015/16 harvest season is between 10,600-13,000 baht per ton.

She said the price did not decrease to as low as 7,000-8,000 baht a ton as reported.

She said recent price inspection showed that the lower price of jasmine rice was due to the quality of the rice, which has not met the quality standard.

Nonetheless, she said the decreasing productions of unmilled jasmine rice have helped to increase its price.

Thailand is now able to export over 9.2 million tons and the ministry has predicted that jasmine rice exports this year would reach 10 million tons as targeted.

Out of the total exports, 3.5 million tons would be from the G2G rice contracts, accounting for a value of over 50 billion baht, which is a record high, she said.

She added that rice exports in 2016 are expected to stand at only 9 million tonnes mainly due to the coming drought.

The Commerce Ministry has joined hands with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in carrying out researches to better develop rice species in order to bring higher yields. Both ministries are also working on ways to help farmers lower their production costs and are campaigning for the farmers to use quality rice seeds without chemical contaminations.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/g2g-rice-export-reaches-record-high-this-year


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-15

I wonder if these figures are true

If you divide B 50 billion by 3,5 million tonnes you get an average price of B 14 287 / ton, compared to the average price of B 10600 to B 13 000 per ton in the article ????? Just the other day an article said that jasmine rice that was sold at the auction fetched +- B 15 000, why is the G2G lower than the normal auction price ? Between last years and this years local sales and exports all of the rice that was supposed to be in stock (good quality) from the last rice scheme have been sold. Because if its not it means that the government have sold the new rice and kept back the old rice knowing it will rot.