Thai rice exports in May 2024 saw a significant decrease of 29.3%, totaling 659,566 tons and valued at approximately 16.1 billion baht, primarily due to a drop in orders for white and parboiled rice. Despite this decline, the demand for Thai Hom Mali fragrant rice remains strong, with a 7.4% increase in exports compared to the previous month. However, the higher pricing of Thai rice in comparison to competitors like India, Vietnam, and Pakistan has led to a shift in preferences towards rice from these countries, particularly in the Philippines and Indonesia. As of the first five months of 2024, India remains the world's leading rice exporter, followed by Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, and the US. The most significant markets for Thai rice have been Indonesia, Iraq, the US, the Philippines, and South Africa.