By Arvin Donley

BANGKOK, THAILAND — Thailand’s rice exports fell year on year between January-April 2026 as the Middle East conflict halted shipments to Middle East markets, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture.

Thailand exported 2.2 million tonnes of rice between January-April 2026 valued at $1.25 billion, according to the Thai Customs Department, down 12% from the same period last year largely due to inability to ship to Iraq and other customers in the Middle East.

Key African and Asian markets partially offset the shortfall in demand, the FAS noted, as Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Angola and Mozambique increased Thai rice imports as El Niño-driven food security concerns continue to underpin additional demand from major importing nations.  

Although Thailand officially entered the 2026 rainy season on May 15, national rainfall through May 31 remained below the 30-year average, the report said. The Royal Irrigation Department reported the Chao Phraya basin usable water storage at 36% capacity and a risk of a June-July dry spell, particularly for farmers outside irrigation zones.

“With domestic and export demand slowing down, relevant Thai government agencies and rice industry stakeholders are accelerating longer-term competitiveness measures, including promotion of high-value and low-carbon rice, and developing higher-yielding varieties,” the FAS said.The FAS said a likely longer-term impact of the Middle East conflict is felt through input costs for Thai rice production. The Thai Customs Department said nitrogenous fertilizer (Harmonized System (HS) 3102) import values averaged $389 per tonne in January-April 2026, up 3% from the same period in 2025, a modest year-on-year rise that understates the supply shock, as the total nitrogenous fertilizer import volume (816,387 tonnes) fell by 20% compared with the same period in 2025. 

Published Date: June 10, 2026