Thai rice exports to global markets increase

According to data from the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA), the January rice exports increased from about 439,677 tonnes in January 2012 to about 575,136 tonnes in January 2013.

TREA said that rice exports to Iraq in January 2013 surged to 118,420 tonns from a mere 120tonnes exported in the same month last year.

Exports to Benin increased to around 48,576 tonnes from about 2,208 tonnes in January 2012, while rice exports to Senegal surged to about 30,865tonnes in January 2013, compared to just 50tonnes exported in January 2012. Rice exports to Togo, Kenya and Angola also saw significant year-on-year increases in January 2013.

Similarly, rice exports to the US increased from around 25,187 tonnes in January 2012 to around 38,439 tonnes in January 2013, and exports to China increased year-on-year to 15,208 tonnes in January 2013, up from around 4,771 tonnes in January 2012.

Nigeria, Singapore and Japan were some other important markets where rice exports from Thailand declined in January 2013, compared to January 2012.