Iraq has resumed rice purchases from Thailand, marking the second batch received this year following a seven-year ban due to previous quality issues. The ban was imposed after a Thai exporter failed to meet Iraq's quality standards and delivered a quantity that was 10% less than agreed upon. This resolution is seen as a significant development for Thai rice exporters, who are urged by the Thai Rice Mills Association to maintain high quality standards to regain customer trust and confidence. Despite Iraq's preference for high-quality rice, its financial challenges have led it to purchase rice more affordably from Asia, even though it may not meet the same quality expectations as Mercosur or US rice.