Thailand’s government has announced a new rice export policy aimed at helping farmers and small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by allowing them to export rice more freely. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated that the government wants to break the control that large exporters have on the market. However, experts from the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) are worried that this plan might not be practical.
Chukiat Opaswong, the honorary president of TREA, pointed out that while farmers and SMEs can already export rice, there are significant challenges including high paperwork costs and the need to get export permits. He also mentioned that the promise to eliminate the requirement of having a 500-tonne warehouse might not really change much, as the true issue is managing costs and building market connections.
According to official data, Thailand’s rice exports have increased, with a 20% rise in volume and a 40% increase in value in 2024. Still, critics believe that the government’s policy may not fully address the challenges that smaller exporters face, making it hard for them to compete in the market.
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