Association promotes softer variety

Thailand needs to review its rice export strategy to focus more on softer white rice, which has higher global demand than the rougher grains that Thailand produces.

Speaking at the centennial celebration of Thai rice exports, Charoen Laothamatas, president of Thai Rice Exporters Association, said if the country wants to retain its title for white rice exports, it needs to respond to changes in consumer tastes.

“It’s time for Thailand to review its white rice export strategy, as most rice consumers love to eat grains with softer texture,” he said. “Exporters are promoting the cultivation of soft-texture white rice varieties with amylose of around 17-19% to cater to higher demand in world markets.”

Thailand exports have 5% hard white rice with 26-27% amylose. That is why Thailand has lost market share every year to Vietnam, which produces around 7-8 million tonnes of soft white rice per year, said Mr Charoen.

The prices of soft white rice are higher than harder grains, fetching an average of US$500600 a tonne, while 5% white rice prices were quoted at $460 per tonne.

Mr Charoen said soft white rice excludes Thai hom mali rice, which is considered a premium grade and fetches $1,250 per tonne, and coloured rice, of which production remains limited.

Thailand exports about 9-10 million tonnes of milled rice a year, with white rice making a giant portion of 5 million tonnes followed by hom mali rice at about 2 million tonnes, parboiled rice at 2 million tonnes and other grains making up the rest.

He said the association has teamed up with the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and Commerce Ministry to promote a group of farmers in the central region to grow more soft-texture rice varieties such as Phitsanulok 80, Kor Khor 21, Kor Khor 77 and Kor Khor 79. The pilot project will start at Suphan Buri, Ratchaburi, and Pathum Thani, covering about 20,000 rai of farmland.

The first production volume will be at 10,000 tonnes of milled rice, with the association pledging to buy the farmers’ produce at 500 baht per tonne, higher than market prices.

Farmers will earn more income when they produce rice in line with world market demand, he said.

Mr Charoen said the association will test export markets such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia late this year, adding if there is positive consumer response, exporters are set to promote the mass production of soft-textured white rice.

He said Thailand expects to be able to ship more rice than earlier projected because of higher demand and lower global supply.

Despite the strong baht, he predicts Thailand can manage to export at least 10 million tonnes of rice at the end of this year.