The Ministry of Commerce has kicked off the shipment of the first 40,000 tons of Thai rice to China under a government-to-government (G to G) purchase agreement. The initiative emphasizes quality control at every stage to build confidence in the Chinese market and helps absorb the second rice harvest, thereby stabilizing Thai rice prices.

Ms. Arada Fuangthong, Director-General of the Department of International Trade, revealed that on March 9, 2026, she visited Asia Golden Rice Co., Ltd. in Chachoengsao Province to monitor the kick-off of the first delivery of 40,000 tons of Thai rice to COFCO Corporation, a government-to-government (G to G) rice purchase agreement between Thailand and China. This delivery marks the ninth installment under this contract and the first installment in the 500,000-ton Thai-China rice deal. Asia Golden Rice Co., Ltd., a member of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, was allocated the task of delivering this first batch, along with over 20 other companies, both large and small. During the visit, the Director-General observed the quality control process of the rice before export, from quality selection and product standard inspection to packaging and export preparation, ensuring compliance with contract terms and Chinese standards.

This site visit was conducted at the behest of Ms. Supajee Suthamphan, Minister of Commerce, who instructed officials to expedite the rice delivery according to plan. The visit also included monitoring the readiness of the preparation process, quality control, and delivery procedures to ensure that Thai rice delivered to China meets quality standards and can be exported on schedule. The first batch of rice is expected to be delivered by March 2026. Furthermore, this rice export will help absorb the surplus rice from the second rice crop currently entering the market, support the expansion of Thai rice exports, and contribute positively to the stability and price of rice domestically in the long term.

Ms. Arada stated, “This first rice delivery marks a significant step in agricultural trade cooperation between Thailand and China. It aligns with the strong relationship between the two countries and presents a crucial opportunity to boost Thai rice exports to international markets. The G to G agreement between Thailand and China plays a vital role in stabilizing the Thai rice market, managing domestic rice supplies, reducing surpluses, and enhancing the competitiveness of Thai rice in the global market. The Department of International Trade will continue to coordinate with the Chinese side to ensure the remaining delivery of the 500,000 tons of rice is completed as planned by 2026.”

Thai rice export statistics: In 2025, Thailand exported 654,770 tons of rice to China, an increase of 48.98 percent from 439,500 tons in 2024. For 2026 (January), Thailand exported 20,544 tons, an increase of 84.47 percent from the same period in 2025, which saw exports of 11,137 tons. The majority of exports were glutinous rice (37.69 percent), followed by 
Thai jasmine rice (27 percent) and white rice (25.31 percent).

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https://www.thairath.co.th/news/governmentpolicy/2919126