Thai Rice Reclaims Top Import Spot in Malaysia for 2026

Thansettakij•Economy•4d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand has returned to being the number one source of rice imports for Malaysia during the first half of 2026.

•Thailand exported 327,995 tons of rice to Malaysia in the first half of 2026.
•Thailand surpassed Vietnam, India, and Cambodia in import volume for the period.
•The Department of Foreign Trade expects total exports to Malaysia to exceed 700,000 tons in 2026.

•Thailand provided 327,995 tons of rice to Malaysia in the first half of 2026, accounting for approximately 46% of Malaysia's total 710,656 tons of rice imports.
•Import volumes from other countries in the same period included Vietnam at 232,416 tons, India at 62,115 tons, and Cambodia at 57,602 tons.
•The volume of rice imported from Thailand in the first six months of 2026 is already higher than the total 2025 annual import volume of 264,605 tons.
•Consumers in the Malay Peninsula prefer Thai white rice due to its firm texture and cooking quality.
•Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) considers quality, continuity, and punctual delivery as key strengths of Thai exporters.
•Thai Jasmine rice and Thai fragrant rice maintain quality acceptance and opportunities to expand in quality-focused consumer groups despite price competition.
•The Department of Foreign Trade will collaborate with the private sector to maintain quality standards and continuously expand the Thai rice market.
•If the trend continues, Thailand's rice exports to Malaysia in 2026 could reach the highest level in over 20 years.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Arada Fuangthong(อารดา เฟื่องทอง)

Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade.

Department of Foreign Trade(กรมการค้าต่างประเทศ)

The agency forecasting Thai rice exports to Malaysia to exceed 700,000 tons in 2026.

Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS)

The sole company granted the right to import rice into Malaysia.

Malaysia(มาเลเซีย)ℹ️

The primary import market for Thai rice.

Vietnam(เวียดนาม)ℹ️

The second largest source of rice imports for Malaysia in the first half of 2026.

India(อินเดีย)ℹ️

A source of rice imports for Malaysia providing 62,115 tons in the first half of 2026.

Cambodia(กัมพูชา)ℹ️

A source of rice imports for Malaysia providing 57,602 tons in the first half of 2026.

Malay Peninsula(คาบสมุทรมาเลเซีย)ℹ️

The region where consumers prefer the texture of Thai white rice.