Browse Data and Analysis

The Caribbean Basin region continues to experience growth, driven primarily by the steady rise in tourism, which in turn impacts consumer demand.

Thai rice exports declined amid rising global supply and lower imports by major buyers. While fragrant rice prices saw a slight rise, prices for most other grades fell.

Thailand offers strong potential for U.S. agricultural exports, which reached $1.4 billion in 2024. The United States ranked as Thailand’s 9th largest supplier of consumer-oriented products, with $429 million in exports.

Thai rice export prices are trending up, with the premium grades, such as Hom Mali rice, showing the most significant increase.

Thailand’s Department of Fisheries (DOF) has established procedures to certify aquatic animals developed through genome editing technology for domestic research and development, production, and/or distribution.

Thai export rice prices experienced downward pressure and then slightly recovered after Songkran holidays, reflecting tariff changes and adjustments in the global rice market.

MY 2025/26 sugar production is expected to further increase 2 percent from MY 2024/25. MY 2024/25 sugar demand by industrial uses is likely to decline significantly due to the Chinese ban on Thai sugar syrup exports.

FAS Bangkok forecasts stability, with modest growth expected in rice and corn production, supported by favorable weather and strong domestic demand.

MY 2025/26 soybean crushing demand to grow at a slower pace of two percent due to slow economic recovery with uncertainties from the U.S. reciprocal tariff measures.

This report highlights the food processing industry, its drivers, key players, and market landscape in the Caribbean Basin. The region relies heavily on imports, and the United States is the largest supplier of food ingredients.

Thailand's beef market offers significant growth potential for U.S. beef exports, particularly in the frozen beef segment. U.S. frozen boneless beef has grown by 24% from 2018 to 2023, reaching a total export volume of 1,083 tons in 2023.

All grades of Thai rice have experienced downward pressure on both domestic farm-gate and export prices.