# El Niño fears push rice importers to build stocks as Thailand watches drought risk

> Thailand faces a 61% probability of El Niño conditions from May to July 2026, with below-normal rainfall forecast. Malaysia and the Philippines are increasing rice purchases to build reserves, pushing Thai and Vietnamese prices above $400 per tonne.

- Date: 2026-05-13 · published 2026-05-13T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: weather · region Thailand · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/19304-el-nino-fears-push-rice-importers-to-build-stocks-as-thailand-watches-drought
- Commodities: [Rough Rice](https://feedsoft.ai/c/RICE.md)

## Why it matters

El Niño drought risk and importer stockpiling tighten export supplies, supporting rice prices.

## Read by commodity

- RICE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RICE | 2023-07-11 | [Rice Soars to Two-Year High in Asia on El Niño Drought Risks - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5208-rice-soars-to-two-year-high-in-asia-on-el-nino-drought-risks-bloomberg.md) | -19.6% | -16.6% |
| RICE | 2020-03-30 | [Rice prices hit 6-year high as Thailand and Vietnam face drought - Nikkei Asia](https://feedsoft.ai/events/54207-rice-prices-hit-6-year-high-as-thailand-and-vietnam-face-drought-nikkei-asia.md) | +4.2% | +21.5% |
| RICE | 2020-01-31 | [Asia Rice-Indian prices extend gains as Thailand battles drought \| Financial Post](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55154-asia-rice-indian-prices-extend-gains-as-thailand-battles-drought-financial-post.md) | -0.3% | -0.3% |
| RICE | 2018-03-26 | [Thailand: Rice exports to drop in 2018](https://feedsoft.ai/events/66250-thailand-rice-exports-to-drop-in-2018.md) | -0.4% | +5.7% |
| RICE | 2020-03-06 | [Asia Rice-Drought-hit Thailand's rates soar to 6-1/2 yr peak on supply dearth](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7987-asia-rice-drought-hit-thailand-s-rates-soar-to-6-1-2-yr-peak-on-supply-dearth.md) | +0.9% | +9.3% |

## Sources

- nationthailand.com: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40066149

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.