Bangkok:The government is intensifying efforts to expand agricultural export markets and enhance support for farmers' incomes after witnessing a significant 109% increase in Thai rice exports to ASEAN countries during the first nine months of 2026.
According to Government Public Relations Department, Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana announced that the Ministry of Commerce, under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun, is working to broaden export opportunities, promote value-added agricultural products, and ensure careful oversight of purchasing practices.
Thailand exported approximately 1.25 million metric tons of rice to ASEAN countries between January and September 2026, marking a 109% year-on-year increase, as reported by the Department of Foreign Trade. The rise in exports to key markets such as the Philippines and Malaysia helped counterbalance declines in exports to Iraq.
The Ministry is also engaging in trade negotiations and has requested an extension of the Philippine import permit for over 36,000 tons of Thai rice impacted by shipping delays. In addition, the government is focusing on higher-value cassava products and exploring potential markets in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Germany, and the United States, while drafting a cassava development strategy for 2027–2030.
Domestically, the Cabinet approved in principle two rice support schemes on October 20, which target 4.5 million tons of paddy rice. These initiatives include a loan program for three million tons to delay rice sales and a program for 1.5 million tons to aid rice collection and value addition by farmers' institutions, representing targets rather than completed purchases.
To ensure fair agricultural trade, authorities inspected more than 300 animal feed corn purchasing facilities across 21 provinces from August to September, discovering 15 violations related to moisture-measuring equipment. The spokesperson stressed that farmers' earnings are influenced by production costs, crop quality, yields, and market access, with authorities continuing to promote export promotion, domestic market development, and fair purchasing practices.
Farmers facing unfair pricing, weighing, or moisture measurements are encouraged to report complaints to the Department of Internal Trade hotline at 1569.