Iran War Spurs Diesel Spike, Halts Thai Rice Exports
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- Iran's war has doubled diesel prices across Southeast Asia, raising rice production costs by about 100%.
- Thailand's rice exports to Iraq have totally stopped, cutting off a 1‑million‑tonne market that accounted for a million of its 2025 shipments.
- Vietnam's sea‑freight rates rose 25‑35%, extending transit times by one to two weeks and squeezing farmer margins.
Why it matters: Thai exporters lose a 1‑million‑tonne Iraq market, while Vietnamese farmers risk abandoning a third rice cycle, cutting national output by up to 10% and pushing global rice prices higher.
