Browse Data and Analysis

FAS Bangkok forecasts Thailand’s rice and corn production to increase in MY 2024/25 in response to improvement in average yield due to higher water supplies, compared to MY 2023/24.

Export prices rose 1-3 percent from the previous week as the Thai baht strengthened and exporters continued to secure the rice supplies to fulfill contract shipments.

Export prices of white and parboiled rice rose one percent from the previous week as exporters reportedly continued to secure the rice supplies to fulfill contract shipments.

Rice export prices dropped 1-3 percent from the previous week as the weakening of the Thai baht and the new crop MY 2024/25 paddy rice entered the market.

The Thai government has made significant progress in addressing food security and climate change challenges by advancing its biotechnology regulatory landscape. Recognizing the benefits of genome editing technology as a key driver for enhancing the competitiveness and value of the agricultural sector, Thailand has taken a major step forward.

Rice export prices dropped one percent from the previous week despite the strengthening of the Thai baht.

The Government of Bulgaria (GOB) continues to oppose agricultural biotechnology. Non-governmental anti-biotech organizations, local activists, and Bulgaria’s organics industry actively spread nonscientific disinformation about biotechnology. Meanwhile, Bulgaria’s poultry, dairy, and livestock stakeholders continue to import biotech-derived feed ingredients.

Honduras has made no modifications to its existing regulatory framework regarding genetically engineered (GE) crops. As of October 2024, planted area of GE corn in Honduras has increased by 29 percent from the previous year, rising from 52,000 to 67,000 hectares. In 2024, the National Committee on Biotechnology and Biosecurity approved six events.

Rice export prices dropped 1-5 percent from the previous week due to the weakening of the Thai baht and India’s removal of all export restrictions on non-Basmati white rice and on parboiled rice.

The National Plant, Animal Health and Food Safety Service (SENASA) is the regulatory agency in Honduras that is responsible for the inspection of all agricultural products that enter the country.

SENASA and ARSA have made significant progress in expediting import procedures with the introduction of online options for requesting import permits and sanitary authorizations of imported raw materials that provide immediate electronic delivery to ports of entry.

FAS/Sofia has revised further downward its estimate for Bulgaria’s MY 2024/25 corn crop to 1.7 million metric tons (MMT) based on the latest harvest data and which, if confirmed, will be the smallest crop since 2012. This is due to the severe summer heat and drought.