Vietnam and Thailand rice exports soar after India ban

Consumers feel the pinch of higher prices as countries scramble to secure supply

A farmer works in her field in Thailand. Exports of Thai rice recovered in 2023. © Reuters

YUJI NITTA and KOSUKE INOUE, Nikkei staff writers

January 12, 2024 04:40 JST

HANOI/BANGKOK -- Exports of rice from Vietnam and Thailand have surged following restrictions in India, the world's biggest supplier, as importing countries scramble to find new sources.

Agriculture is a "pillar" of the economy, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Jan. 3 at a conference of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.