Thailand exported 11.13 million tonnes of rice worth US$5.62 billion in 2018, but exports will drop this year, according to the Foreign Trade Department.
Director-general Adul Chotinisakorn said on Tuesday that last year's rice exports were worth 180.41 billion baht, met the target and helped raise local paddy prices and farm incomes.
He expected exports would drop slightly this year. The department would try to increase the export value and encourage farmers to grow quality rice and high-demand rice.
The global economic slowdown could affect purchasing power and rice from other countries was cheaper than Thai rice, Mr Adul said. However, he believed that the quality of Thai rice and its price remained competitive in global markets.
This year, the department would launch marketing campaigns in major buying countries in Asia, particularly Hong Kong, Singapore, China, the Philippines and Indonesia, he said.
