Thailand faces a significant drop in rice exports—down 25% year-on-year to 4.3 million metric tons in the January–July 2025 period. The decline stems from heightened global competition, notably India's resumption of rice exports, reduced demand from major buyers like Indonesia and the Philippines, and a stronger baht, which has appreciated 5.8% against the U.S. dollar, dampening the export value, which fell 35.4% to 86.4 billion baht (US$2.67 billion). Despite these headwinds, the country remains committed to its 2025 export target of 7.5 million metric tons.
To bridge the gap, Thailand is zeroing in on high-demand markets—including China, the Middle East, Japan, and the United States—where performance has remained relatively strong. Notably, rice exports to the U.S. climbed 4.3% in the January–July period. Officials expect annual U.S. exports to approach 800,000 metric tons, nearly on par with 2024 despite existing tariffs.
The strategy hinges on channeling efforts into markets showing resilience in demand. Commerce Ministry official Arada Fuangtong acknowledged the challenges ahead—summed up as the outlook being "dim"—yet emphasized that the government “will try our best” to meet the year-end target.
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September 15, 2025
