Thai rice exports from January to August 2013 totaled 4.2 million metric tonnes, valued at 2.9 billion US dollars, or 87.2 billion baht. In terms of export value, Thailand remains the world’s largest rice exporter.
Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade Tikhumporn Natvaratat said that, during the eight-month period, Thailand’s rice export volume was lower than that of India and Vietnam.
The export price of Thai rice was higher than that of the same period of 2012. Mr. Tikhumporn said that the Government would focus on upgrading the standards of Thai rice, in line with the rising export price in the world market. He believed that a large volume of rice would be seen in the world market in the second half of 2013. This situation might affect Hom Mali and parboiled rice exports.
Japan and Iraq have continued to import premium white rice from Thailand. Major importers of Hom Mali, or Thai jasmine rice, include the United States, Ivory Coast, and Hong Kong. Parboiled rice has been exported mainly to Benin, South Africa, and Yemen. In 2013, Thailand has set a target to export 8.5 million tonnes of rice, worth 5.7 billion dollars.
It remains to be seen in the fourth quarter whether Thailand will be able to reach the set target. The weakening baht to the US dollar is likely to contribute to Thai rice exports, and the Government also continues to release rice from its stocks.
Thailand has many rice varieties, but Hom Mali, which is indigenous to Thailand, is recognized as one of the best varieties in the world. It is very popular and is also in great demand overseas. The brand of Hom Mali is well known worldwide, especially in the high-end market.
The Department of Foreign Trade recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Kasetsart University in Bangkok, under which they will cooperate in establishing a laboratory to analyze the DNA of Thai rice for export. The Department will provide financial support, while Kasetsart University will set up and develop the laboratory, located on the university campus. The project will be in operation within 180 days.
When the laboratory is completed, it will be able to check and analyze at least 100 samples per day. This will help speed up the export procedures for Hom Mali rice. The laboratory is designed to examine the Hom Mali DNA for assurance of quality and standards. At the same time, it will also be able to check if Thai rice exports are contaminated with varieties from other countries.
According to the Department, the setting up of this laboratory will help develop Thai rice standards, in line with the Government’s policy to promote Thailand as the rice trade center in the ASEAN region.
source: http://thailand.prd.go.th/view_news.php?id=6946&a=2