Cambodia cuts rice prices to compete with Thailand in US market

Thansettakij•Economy•7d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai rice exports decreased in the first half of 2026 amid intense price competition from Cambodia and other competitors.

•Thai rice exports from January to June 2026 totaled 3.28 million tons, a 19% decrease from the previous year.
•Cambodian jasmine rice is being offered at approximately 800 dollars per ton, significantly lower than Thai jasmine rice at 1,200-1,250 dollars per ton.
•The Philippines and Malaysia increased imports of Thai rice to build stocks against El Nino risks.
•Thai rice exports to Iraq have nearly halted due to the impact of war in the Middle East.

Overview

•Thai rice exports in the first six months of 2026 (January-June) totaled 3.28 million tons, valued at 1,911 million US dollars, representing a 20.51% decrease in value.
•Thai jasmine rice exports dropped approximately 20% over the past 7-8 months because the closure of the Thai-Cambodian border forced Cambodian exporters to dump products into the global market at lower prices.
•Cambodian jasmine rice is priced approximately 400 dollars per ton lower than Thai jasmine rice, which is offered at 1,200-1,250 dollars per ton compared to Cambodia's 800 dollars per ton.
•Low prices have led importers in several countries to choose Cambodian rice, some of which is repackaged and marketed as Thai jasmine rice, pressuring Thai market share in the United States, China, and some European countries.
•Thai 5% white rice is priced at 440-450 dollars per ton, which is higher than Vietnam (420 dollars), Pakistan (395 dollars), and India (350 dollars).
•The Philippines imported nearly 400,000 tons of Thai rice in the first half of the year, and Malaysia increased its rice reserves from 3 months to 9 months.
•Thai rice exports to Iraq have almost stopped after exporting only about 90,000 tons in early 2026 due to war in the Middle East.
•Chukiat Opaswong believes Thai rice exports for the full year 2026 could reach the 7 million ton target and maintain the world's 3rd largest exporter rank if no further negative factors emerge.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Thansettakij (Original)

Key Quotes

Chukiat Opaswong

"If there are no additional negative factors, both from geopolitical situations or global market volatility, I believe Thai rice exports for the whole year 2026 still have a chance to be close to the target of 7 million tons and maintain the rank of the 3rd largest rice exporting country in the world (second to India and Vietnam), even as price competition becomes more intense."

หากไม่มีปัจจัยลบเพิ่มเติม ทั้งจากสถานการณ์ภูมิรัฐศาสตร์หรือความผันผวนของตลาดโลก เชื่อว่าการส่งออกข้าวไทยทั้งปี 2569 ยังมีโอกาสทำได้ใกล้เคียงเป้าหมาย 7 ล้านตัน และรักษาอันดับ 3 ของประเทศผู้ส่งออกข้าวรายใหญ่ของโลกไว้ได้(รองจากอินเดีย และเวียดนาม) แม้การแข่งขันด้านราคาจะทวีความรุนแรงมากขึ้นก็ตาม

Key Entities

Person

Chukiat Opaswong(ชูเกียรติ โอภาสวงศ์)

Honorary President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association.

Organization

Thai Rice Exporters Association(สมาคมผู้ส่งออกข้าวไทย)

The association representing Thai rice exporters.

Thanakiijet(ฐานเศรษฐกิจ)

The news organization that interviewed Chukiat Opaswong.

Place

United States(สหรัฐอเมริกา)ℹ️

Thailand's number one rice export market.

Cambodia(กัมพูชา)ℹ️

A competitor in the jasmine rice market that lowered prices after the Thai-Cambodian border closed.

South Africa(แอฟริกาใต้)ℹ️

One of the top five export markets for Thai rice.

Malaysia(มาเลเซีย)ℹ️

A market that increased Thai rice imports to reserve stocks against El Nino.

Philippines(ฟิลิปปินส์)ℹ️

A market that imported nearly 400,000 tons of Thai rice in the first half of 2026.

China(จีน)ℹ️

One of the top five export markets for Thai rice facing increased pressure from Cambodian competition.

Vietnam(เวียดนาม)ℹ️

The second largest rice exporter in the world and a price competitor for white rice.

Pakistan(ปากีสถาน)ℹ️

A price competitor for white rice.

India(อินเดีย)ℹ️

The largest rice exporter in the world and a low-price competitor for white rice.

Iraq(อิรัก)ℹ️

A market where Thai rice exports have almost halted due to war in the Middle East.

Europe(ยุโรป)ℹ️

A region where Thai rice faces pressure from Cambodian competition.