By IntelliNews – Phnom Penh Bureau

Thailand shipped about 1.25mn tonnes of rice to ASEAN countries between January and September 2026, a 109% rise from a year earlier, the country’s Department of Foreign Trade said on November 5. Higher purchases by the Philippines and Malaysia made up for weaker sales to Iraq.

The Nation Thailand reported that over the nine months, ASEAN markets took 25.2% of all the rice Thailand sold abroad, up from 9.7%. That jump in regional sales has arrived in a tough year for the country’s exporters, who have faced a stronger baht, geopolitical conflict, fierce competition on price and erratic weather. Erratic conditions have hurt production and raised the cost of shipping, while several important buyers in the Middle East have been ordering less.

Department of Foreign Trade Director-General Arada Fuangtong said combined Thai rice sales to the Philippines and Malaysia rose by over 750,000 tonnes compared with the first nine months of 2025. Both countries are building reserves and securing steady supplies to protect food security, according to the department.

Arada pointed to reports that Philippine paddy output fell 12.3% in the third quarter of 2026. Malaysia is expected to harvest around 2.1mn tonnes of paddy this year, short of its five-year average.

Buyer preferences vary across the region, Arada said. Filipino consumers lean towards soft, new-crop rice, while those in Peninsular Malaysia favour firmer grains that swell during cooking. Singapore and Brunei buy Thai Hom Mali jasmine rice, premium grades and health-oriented varieties.

“The department believes ASEAN will remain an important long-term strategic market for Thai rice, given its geographical proximity, diverse consumer demand and strong trade ties,” Arada said.

She added that exporters must raise quality and productivity, cut costs and breed varieties suited to market tastes to stay competitive against other major suppliers.

Because heavy rainfall delayed shipping by sea in October, the department has requested that officials in the Philippines allow more time for deliveries covered by Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance permits, which apply to a volume of Thai rice exceeding 36,000 tonnes.

In August, department officials visited Malaysia and the Philippines for talks with state agencies and rice traders. Thailand is also in discussions with Singapore on rice sales through a memorandum of cooperation between the two governments, which permits as much as 100,000 tonnes across a five-year period.

Published Date: November 6, 2026