Thailand's Commerce Ministry and Exporters Secure Japan's Commitment to Import 300,000 Tons of Thai Rice Annually

Thailand's Department of Foreign Trade, led by Director-General Arada Fuengtong, organized a delegation of Thai rice exporters to Japan from April 17-21, 2026, to strengthen commercial relationships with Japanese government and private sector organizations involved in rice trade. The delegation also conducted promotional activities with Thai restaurants to boost Thai rice consumption and maintain market share in Japan. Meetings were held with the Overseas Merchandise Inspection Company (OMIC), Japan's rice quality inspection agency, and major importers including Itochu Corporation, Ltd., Kanematsu Corporation, and Kitoku Shinryo Co. All four organizations have long-standing trade relationships with Thai rice exporters and confirmed that Thai rice maintains excellent quality and safety standards, with consistent and timely delivery meeting Japan's needs. Despite tariffs of approximately 341 yen per kilogram (68 baht per kilogram) for out-of-quota imports, all three importers committed to continuing Thai rice purchases. They noted strong ongoing demand for Thai rice in both industrial processing (sembei, shoyu, miso, and awamori production) and household and restaurant consumption, indicating significant growth potential in the Japanese market.

The delegation also met with Hanamaruki Foods Inc., a major Japanese miso producer that has reformulated its miso recipe using Thai rice as the primary ingredient, replacing its previous exclusive use of Japanese rice. Thai rice's comparable properties, flavor profile, and competitive pricing made it an attractive alternative, and the company confirmed it will continue using Thai rice in production.

Director-General Arada noted that the delegation also met with the Crop Production Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the government agency responsible for determining rice import quotas and overseeing auction procedures. The two sides exchanged information on bilateral rice trade conditions. Japan reported that domestic rice prices have declined due to MAFF's recent release of medium and short-grain rice from state reserves (Japanese consumers prefer medium and short-grain varieties) and that MAFF will begin opening auctions for medium and short-grain rice imports starting in May. Thailand requested that Japan maintain Thai rice imports at approximately 300,000 tons annually to demonstrate goodwill in the relationship.

With Thai cuisine gaining significant popularity in Japan, the Department of Foreign Trade collaborated with the Thai Trade Promotion Office in Tokyo to conduct promotional activities for Thai rice.