Thailand’s Rice Exports Surge in Australia, Exceeding Expectations
Thailand’s rice promotion at Fine Food Australia 2025 boosted Thai rice’s popularity, attracting over 2,000 visitors. Thai Hom Mali rice, including specialty varieties like Riceberry and RD43, impressed consumers. Thailand holds 35% of Australia’s rice imports. Despite slight volume dips, average prices rose, signaling strong market potential and future growth.
The Department of Foreign Trade (DTF) has announced a significant boost in the popularity of Thai rice in Australia, following a highly successful promotional campaign at a major food expo in Sydney.
The campaign, which was part of the Fine Food Australia 2025 trade show from 8-11 September, drew over 2,000 visitors to the Thai booth and highlighted Australia’s strong demand for Thai rice.
The DFT’s Director-General, Arada Fuangthong, stated that the department’s mission was to promote Thai Hom Mali rice as a “world-class, high-quality product with a unique taste, softness, and aroma.”
The campaign also aimed to raise awareness of the official Thai Hom Mali Rice certification mark. Visitors to the stand were educated on the quality and variety of Thai rice, with the slogan “Think Rice, Think Thailand” used to reinforce its premium image.
The event showcased a diverse range of Thai rice, including brown, white, glutinous, Riceberry, and RD43 rice—the latter two being popular with health-conscious consumers due to their medium-to-low glycaemic index.
The DFT noted an unexpectedly positive response from attendees from various countries, including Australia, China, South Korea, Fiji, and parts of Europe and ASEAN.
Australian consumers expressed a strong belief in the quality of Thai Hom Mali rice, noting its availability in local supermarkets and Asian food retailers.
The DFT also identified a growing interest in specialty rices and ready-to-eat products, indicating a potential for further market growth.
Australia imports at least 200,000 tonnes of rice annually, with Thai rice consistently holding the top position, accounting for approximately 35% of all imports.
Last year, imports of Thai rice surged by 25% to 96,182 tonnes. Although imports in the first half of this year saw a slight dip in volume and value, the average price of Thai rice per tonne has risen to USD 938, up from USD 872 in the previous year.
The DFT believes that the positive reception at the Sydney expo proves Australia is a strong market for Thai premium and speciality rices. The campaign is expected to help increase Thailand’s market share in the country in the future.
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Source : Nation Thailand
