VNA/VOVNews (Hanoi)
Thai rice exports to ASEAN are facing more challenges, as relatively higher prices and tariff cuts under the ASEAN Free Trade Area or AFTA make Thai rice less appealing to regional buyers.
Thailand has already lost its market leadership in ASEAN, as the grains from Vietnam and Cambodia now control up to 60 percent of the market, according to Director of the Thai Rice Exporters Association Somkiat Makcayathorn.
Thai rice makes up only 30 percent of the ASEAN market share, down from as much as 60 percent five years ago, as key buyers including Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines have turned to Vietnam.
Vietnam last year exported 6.5 million tonnes of milled rice, with the figure for the first five months of this year totalling 3.1 million, slightly lower than 3.3 million tonnes for Thailand, said Somkiat.
"More importantly, Vietnam's rice exports are mainly in the form of white rice, while Thai rice shipments have parboiled and glutinous rice combined.''
Vietnam last year exported 2.8 million tonnes to the region, mainly to the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, while Thailand's figure was only 640,000 tonnes out of 8.5 million globally.
Somkiat also warned that Thailand could no longer be complacent about quality, as the renowned aroma of Thai Hom Mali (Jasmine) rice was not considered as good as it was five years ago.
More worrying is the fact that Cambodia has adapted some Thai Hom Mali varieties and ships the paddy to Vietnam, capitalising on the free trade pact.
Thailand has already lost its market leadership in ASEAN, as the grains from Vietnam and Cambodia now control up to 60 percent of the market, according to Director of the Thai Rice Exporters Association Somkiat Makcayathorn.
Thai rice makes up only 30 percent of the ASEAN market share, down from as much as 60 percent five years ago, as key buyers including Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines have turned to Vietnam.
Vietnam last year exported 6.5 million tonnes of milled rice, with the figure for the first five months of this year totalling 3.1 million, slightly lower than 3.3 million tonnes for Thailand, said Somkiat.
"More importantly, Vietnam's rice exports are mainly in the form of white rice, while Thai rice shipments have parboiled and glutinous rice combined.''
Vietnam last year exported 2.8 million tonnes to the region, mainly to the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, while Thailand's figure was only 640,000 tonnes out of 8.5 million globally.
Somkiat also warned that Thailand could no longer be complacent about quality, as the renowned aroma of Thai Hom Mali (Jasmine) rice was not considered as good as it was five years ago.
More worrying is the fact that Cambodia has adapted some Thai Hom Mali varieties and ships the paddy to Vietnam, capitalising on the free trade pact.
4 comments:
If you are stupid and don't know how to grow rice just sell land to YOUN and SIAM.
Malis is fragrant Khmer rice. Thai also blame Cambodia for their failure.
Mr Somkiat's warning has great meaning to Thailand both economically and politically.
This is the sign of Vietnamisation into the region. The Thai arrogant policy to ignore the reunification of two Vietnams, the control of Laos and Vietnam's involvement in Cambodia will have bad consequences to Thailand herself.
Currently Vietnam controls the rice production in Cambodia because they gain control over Cambodia politics. Remember, behind rice exportation, only the Thai world air service industry is left behind. If the later collapses, economically, the Thai Kingdom would start to fall. Thai politicians should change their attitude and not adopt the old system to hate Isaan, Laos or Khmers, as we are so closely related. This gives a new strength to the three sisterhood nations both politically and economically.
Because Thailand has never experienced any war, like other nations around her, war is not always bad, it can be an excellent lesson as well.
Thailand, you have to change your attitude and reform a new policy.
Don't believe Vietnam and Thailand propaganda, both tried to erase Cambodia but ended up almost erasing themselves.
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