Foreign media: The Iran war has caused a complete halt in Thailand's rice exports to the Middle East, further squeezing farmers already in trouble.
Recently, two ships carrying a total of 80,000 tons of rice heading to Iraq were suspended at the Bangkok port, and the buyer requested unloading and returning to storage.
The honorary chairman of the Thai Rice Exporters Association said that the Middle East route may be suspended for several months, and new purchases have completely stalled.
Iraq is Thailand's largest rice buyer, but the goods need to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and this week a Thai cargo ship was just attacked by an Iranian missile in the area. Exporters also face rising shipping costs due to war risk surcharges and higher fuel costs.
About a quarter of Thailand's labor force is engaged in agriculture. Previously, rice exports were expected to drop to a five-year low of 7 million tons, and now the outlook is even more bleak.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859642379223300/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.