Thai Hom Mali Rice (Jasmine)

Certified Thai jasmine rice, KDML 105 and RD15, from the north-east harvest

Thai Hom Mali rice (HS 1006.30) is the protected name for jasmine rice grown in Thailand from the KDML 105 and RD15 varieties, harvested once a year in November and December mainly in the north-east. The Thai Hom Mali standard requires at least 92 per cent of the variety by weight, with the balance other white rice, and a certification scheme run by the Ministry of Commerce and the Department of Foreign Trade issues the certificate of Thai Hom Mali Rice that accompanies an export lot; a lot that does not meet the 92 per cent threshold is sold as Thai fragrant rice, which is the lower-priced jasmine-type grade from other varieties such as Pathum Thani 1. The United States is the largest buyer, taking about 0.86 million tonnes of Thai rice in 2025 at a declared value near USD 985 per tonne, almost all of it Hom Mali, followed by China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada. The exporters' association targets 1.7 million tonnes of Hom Mali and 0.6 million tonnes of Thai fragrant rice for 2026.

The grade is priced far above white rice: Thai Hom Mali 100% was quoted at USD 1,171 to 1,250 per tonne FOB through 2026, against USD 410 to 480 for white rice 5% broken. That premium came under pressure in 2026 from Cambodian jasmine, which undercut Hom Mali by about USD 400 per tonne, and from Vietnamese fragrant rice at USD 490 to 495, so Hom Mali exports fell by about a fifth across the first eight months. Buyers who keep paying it are the branded retail packers in North America, East Asia and the Gulf, for whom the certified variety and the aroma on opening the pack are the product. CBIL brokers Thai Hom Mali from exporter-millers registered under the certification scheme, with the Hom Mali certificate, the Department of Foreign Trade inspection and SGS or Intertek sampling at stuffing, in 1, 5, 10 and 25 kg retail packs and 50 kg bags by the container from Bangkok and Laem Chabang. New crop is offered from December; old crop is cheaper and less aromatic, and the crop year is on every offer.

See also: Basmati: the other aromatic long grain · Thai white rice 5% broken

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Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.