Bangkok: The Ministry of Commerce has reduced rice export fees to support farmers and small businesses going international and expanding the Thai rice market globally.
According to Thai News Agency, the new Ministerial Regulation on Rice Trade Fees (No. 2) B.E. 2568 (2025) will be effective from November 7, 2025, waiving rice export license fees for farmers and cooperatives while reducing fees for small-scale operators. This initiative aims to lower costs and increase opportunities for exporting Thai rice to international markets, potentially expanding the country’s overall export volume and impacting domestic rice prices positively in the future.
Mr. Witthayakorn Maneenet, Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, stated that the fee adjustment seeks to create new opportunities for farmers, cooperatives, and small-scale rice entrepreneurs by increasing their access to export markets. This is especially beneficial for those capable of producing high-quality rice but constrained by costs. The fee reduction and waiver serve as crucial mechanisms to enhance the capabilities of Thai producers to engage fairly in the global trade system.
The revised rate adjustment stipulates that farmer groups and cooperatives will be exempt from the rice export license fee. Small-scale rice entrepreneurs with registered capital of no more than 10 million baht will now pay 10,000 baht, reduced from 50,000 baht. Those with registered capital exceeding 10 million baht but not exceeding 20 million baht will pay 30,000 baht. Exporters of packaged rice will also see a fee reduction to 10,000 baht, down from 20,000 baht. These adjustments are intended to ease entry for new entrepreneurs in the export business.
Additionally, the regulation builds on past measures that exempted farmers and cooperatives from holding rice export stocks and reduced the minimum stock requirement for small-scale exporters from 500 tons to 100 tons. This approach allows small businesses to operate export activities effectively, fostering an open trade system and promoting balanced competition.
Mr. Witthayakorn emphasized that the fee reduction will enable farmers and entrepreneurs to develop their brands, reach international customers directly, and increase community incomes over the long term. The measure aligns with government policies aimed at boosting the grassroots economy, enhancing farmers’ incomes, and promoting Thai rice as a competitive global product. The reduction in fees not only lowers costs for entrepreneurs but also expands trade opportunities for all Thai producers, thus increasing Thailand’s international trade volume and contributing to future domestic rice price stability.