Bangkok: Cabinet unlocks Thai rice exports, shifting the potential for "small" farmers to export independently by reducing stock size, decreasing fees, and increasing channels for direct global rice exports under the "Thai Opportunity to Do It" policy for Thai farmers.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, shared that Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, announced the government's achievements on the 3-month anniversary under the campaign '2025 Empowering Thais: A Real Possibility From Concrete Performance Towards a Real Future'. The Prime Minister highlighted the urgency of dismantling monopoly capital, particularly in rice, to enable all farmers and SME rice traders to export rice globally on their own.
The latest Cabinet resolution on 14 May 2025 approved the draft ministerial regulation on rice trading fees. The primary change involves adjusting the rice trading license fee structure to reduce costs for exporters, including:
1. General exporters, previously charged 50,000 baht per document, now have tiered fees based on registered capital: 10,000 baht for 5-10 million baht capital, 30,000 baht for over 10-20 million baht, and 50,000 baht for more than 20 million baht.
2. Exporters of packaged rice will now pay 10,000 baht per copy, down from 20,000 baht.
Additionally, there are revised fees for the license to operate rice businesses for farmers, groups, or cooperatives registered with government agencies.
'This unlocking will allow Thai rice farmers not to be large-scale to export rice abroad, which is considered a good unlocking of trade in the current free world,' Mr. Jirayu stated. Under Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra's leadership, the government aims to enhance the quality of life for Thai rice farmers, ensuring stability and sustainability. This legislative amendment is seen as a reform of the Thai rice export industry, resolving monopoly issues and enabling farmers and SMEs to compete in the global rice market, aligning with the current economic climate. Consequently, rice farmers express gratitude to the government for addressing this issue, promising benefits for farmers of all production sizes.