Commerce Min: Rice export target to be met despite drought impact

BANGKOK, 7 April 2016 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce has indicated that, even though rice exports this year are being affected by the drought crisis, their volume will likely reach 9.5 million tons as targeted.

According to Commerce Minister Apiradee Tantraporn, this year’s rice exports will be outshined by those of last year, when a total of 10 million tons were exported, largely because the severe drought has affected productivity. Nonetheless, the minister gave assurance that the annual target of 9.5 million tons will be achieved.

She affirmed that the government will from now on coordinate more closely with the private sector in order to raise the country’s rice production capacity. While private entrepreneurs take charge of the production process, the state will search for additional channels for their rice in such markets as Hong Kong, Singapore, China, ASEAN and the United States.

Concerning the remaining rice stocks amounting to over 12 million tons, Ms Apiradee insisted that the government will hastily seek channels to release them, citing that the old stocks are holding back the prices of rice in the market.


-- NNT 2016-04-07

off course they will meet their target!

Anything else would be to loose face.....And that wont happen.

Have to get rid of that rotting rice from the storage warehouses somehow!

the minister gave assurance that the annual target of 9.5 million tons will be achieved.

Yes, as long as the target keeps moving.

In January 2016 President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association Charoen Laothamatas and the Commerce Ministry had set an export target this year at 9.0 million tons. The intent for lower exports was to drive rice global market prices higher. Meanwhile, India who exported over 10 million tons of rice in 2015 will push to remain the number one world rice exporter for 2016 that surely will hold global proces down.

In a reverse irony, Prayut faulted the Yingluck regime from losing the nation's ranking as the number one rice world exporter in 2013. But for 2015 Thailand again lost its number one ranking.

It's just amazing how everything always works out here, despite all those obstacles. Rice, drought, fish, aviation, slavery, tourism, corruption, foreign investment, trains... everything is thriving and doing well! Good job, all around!

"... government will from now on (will) coordinate more closely with the private sector in order to raise the country’s rice production capacity...?" Drought, and time permitting.

In addition,"the government (must) hastily seek channels to sell remaining rice stocks amounting to over 12 million tons", although we were given to understand that much of the rice is rotten?

Great! 9.5 million tonnes down and only 12 million tonnes to go!