International Trade Patterns
Total Market Overview
Top 10 Exporters of Rice to the Total Market: 1985-2003
Overview Similar to its standing as an exporter to the U.S. market, Thailand’s percentage of the total market share has remained relatively stable, averaging about 26.91%, while the percentages of the United States have not been stable, ranging from 22.71% to 12.36%. The contribution from the U.S. to the world has actually decreased from 1985 (22.71% down to 15.62%). The third ranked country, India, has made astonishing progress, holding 15.62% of the market in 2003, as opposed to its mere 5.34% in 1985. Not surprisingly, Thailand and India are the top two exporters of rice to the U.S. market.
In 2004, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that the Iraqi Grain Board awarded a 165,000-metric-ton tender for rice to Thailand, presumably because of their rice being quoted at more competitive prices. Prior to the start of the first Gulf War in 1990, Iraq was a major market for U.S. rice. Rice industry leaders in the United States have been encouraging the Bush administration to re-establish their stronghold in Iraq’s rice market. However, due to the fact that Thailand and Vietnam are against efforts to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s government, Iraq’s rice tenders continue to go to them as opposed to the United States. (1)
Shifting Standings Thailand grew from a mere 878,160 million market shares in 1985 to an astounding 1,953,178 million market shares in 2003. Interestingly, though Thailand is the world's largest rice exporter, it only holds the 6th ranking for rice production.This success in exports is, in addition to ensuring peaceful relations with countries that they are bound to through trade linkages, such as Iraq. Thai's largest export markets are Indonesia, Nigeria, Iran, the United States and Singapore, but the sum of smaller markets add up also. (2) It is also interesting to note the sudden peaks that both India and Vietnam experience in 1995 and 2000, respectively. The drops that follow these peaks show these countries' inability to retain a stable hold on the market. If we take a look at Vietnam, in 2000, rice exports rose to an astounding 1,123,706 million market shares. However, within three years, Vietnam's contribution to the world market dropped to a mere 359,340 million market shares.
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