Vietnam is about to surpass Thailand to become the second largest rice exporter in the world

According to the Bloomberg News, The Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA) has cut 13% of its rice export as expected, to only 6.5 million tons this year. At this rate, Thailand's rice exports fell to their lowest level since 2010.
Drought across the country caused Thailand's rice production to fall, pushing up the price of rice. A stronger Thai bath also makes Thai rice export more expensive than other rice exporters. “The situation in the next 6 months will be difficult. But exports can recover if the local currency depreciates, ”said Charoen Laothamatas, President of TREA, quoted by Bloomberg.
In the first 6 months of this year, Thailand was the third largest rice exporter in the world, after India and Vietnam. Africa, which once accounted for 55% of Thailand's rice exports in 2019, is now turning to look for cheaper rice suppliers.