Beijing: The Department of International Trade (DIT) has embarked on a visit to China to promote Thai rice and expedite government-to-government sales contracts.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, is actively working on expanding the Thai rice market in China. This includes presenting Thai rice at the 22nd "China-ASEAN Expo" in Nanning and conducting negotiations with the Chinese state-owned enterprise COFCO Corporation to advance outstanding rice contracts totaling 280,000 tons. Additionally, there is a proposal to increase imports to 500,000 tons, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations.
Ms. Arada Fuangthong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, highlighted the significance of the China-ASEAN Expo, an event highly regarded by the Chinese government. This year's expo saw over 1,200 attendees, with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng officiating the opening ceremony. The department showcased various Thai rice varieties such as jasmine rice, sticky rice, white rice, and specialty types like Riceberry, Hom Nil rice, and Sangyod rice. These were displayed through an interactive touchscreen, allowing visitors to explore their quality and nutritional benefits. Demonstrations on rice cooking and Thai cuisine were also held, including a pork panang curry dish prepared by Mr. Ekkachat Sittawarat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, which received significant attention. The department's booth engaged over 3,000 participants throughout the event.
Thailand exports between 400,000 and 700,000 tons of rice to China annually, capturing about 24 percent of the rice import market, following Vietnam and Myanmar. In 2025, from January to July, Thailand exported 406,720 tons of rice to China, valued at 6,819 million baht, marking a 125.09 percent volume increase and a 61.24 percent value increase compared to the previous year. White rice remains the top export, followed by glutinous rice and Thai Hom Mali rice.
The Department of Foreign Trade led a trade delegation to Beijing to meet with COFCO Corporation executives, negotiating the expedited sale of 280,000 tons of rice under a government-to-government contract. The delegation proposed expanding imports to 500,000 tons to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Both parties agreed to collaborate on marketing and public relations activities to enhance the awareness of Thai rice quality among Chinese consumers.
Discussions with China's State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) were also held to protect Thai rice trade. These discussions included clarifying standards and registration of Thai Hom Mali rice certification marks, along with procedures for handling potential product infringement or counterfeiting. SAMR expressed its readiness to cooperate closely with Thailand.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association reaffirmed its commitment to fulfilling rice contracts and fully supports the Department's efforts to maintain confidence among Chinese trading partners, fostering strong relations between government, private sectors, and entrepreneurs in both nations.
The Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade stated that the successful negotiations and the 500,000-ton import expansion serve as a strategic "tool to find markets for Thai rice production" and a "symbol of the close Thai-Chinese relationship," paving the way for deeper and more sustainable agricultural trade cooperation in the future.