Iran to import Thai rice

Thai deputy prime minister and commerce minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan said last week the deal was concluded during his trip to Iran earlier in July. However, Niwatthamrong declined to reveal the price of the rice.

The minister said Iran will order an additional 750,000 tonnes of rice as Tehran was negotiating to import one million tonnes of rice from Thailand in the next two years.

“I expect Iran will import at least 500,000 tonnes of Thai rice next year,” he said.

Tehran has also expressed interest to import other Thai products such as natural rubber and cassava, said the deputy premier.

Niwatthamrong said rice export negotiations were also currently under way with several countries including China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East.

The minister will visit those countries in future to seal rice deals.