Thailand loses world’s 2nd largest rice exporter ranking to Vietnam

10 Sept 12:36 Key points summarised by AI

Vietnam surpassed Thailand to become the world's second-largest rice exporter in the first half of the year, with India maintaining its top position.
Thailand's rice exports dropped significantly by 27.3% to 3.73 million tonnes, while Vietnam's exports rose by 3.6% to 4.72 million tonnes during the same period.
The value of Thai rice exports for the first six months plummeted by 36.4% year-on-year, estimated at 75.57 billion baht.
Despite a projected increase in July exports due to higher orders, overall rice prices are expected to weaken due to increased global supply and decreased demand, leading to competitive price cutting.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Today 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.