Indonesia wants to import 1.5 million tonnes of rice from Thailand and Vietnam by next January as the effect of the El Nino weather phenomenon has cut domestic supply.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, honourary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said the Indonesian government announced plans to buy rice through government-to-government deals and its representatives would soon begin negotiations.
Prices could vary as Thai rice was better and more expensive than Vietnamese rice, Mr Chookiat said.
Indonesia might have to import from other sources too because Thailand and Vietnam may not be able to fill the 1.5-million-tonne demand within Indonesia's timeframe, he said.
Indonesia wanted the rice between November and January. Its own rice harvest season would start in March, he said.
"The 1.5 million tonnes that Indonesia needs is white rice 5% and 15% broken, and it must be new rice. It is good the Thai rice harvest late this year has a market," he said.
In the first nine months of this year, Thailand exported nearly 7 million tonnes of rice and the Commerce Ministry is confident the export target of 10 million tonnes will be realised this year, Post Today reported.