Mount Dukono eruption and heavy flooding affected people in Indonesia. On 7 May 2026, Dukono Volcano erupted on Halmahera Island, Indonesia. Three people died while 15 others were rescued. As of 11 May 2026, local authorities still prohibited access to the volcano area even the volcanic alert level was downgraded to Level 2. Meanwhile, torrential rainfall affected South Sulawesi during 7–8 May 2026, resulting in two fatalities and affecting 4,485 people. Around 800 buildings were damaged, while three roads were flooded, including one that was partially damaged.

Source: ReliefWeb. (2026, May 11). Indonesia - Volcanic activity, update (BNPB, MAGMA, media) (ECHO Daily Flash of 11 May 2026); ReliefWeb. (2026, May 13). Indonesia - Floods (ADINet, BMKG, NOAA-CPC) (ECHO Daily Flash of 13 May 2026).

Flash flood forced student to flee from a school in Malaysia. On 10 May 2026, severe rainfall and rising river water levels triggered a flash flood that affected part of a religious school in Tasek Gelugor, Malaysia. A total of 73 students were safely evacuated. Local authorities conducted monitoring operations and provided assistance to affected individuals. The floodwaters later completely receded.

Source: NST Online. (2026, May 10). Flash flood hits religious school in Penang, 73 students safe.

Malaysia approved a special aid programme to support rice farmers. The government has approved an advance payment of 200 MYR (50.70 USD) per hectare under the Ploughing Incentive Special Aid programme aim to support rice farmers facing rising production costs. According to the Prime Minister, the special aid programme will benefit about 240,000 registered farmers and cost the government about 48 million MYR (12.17 million USD). The programme is necessary as farmers face rising fuel and agricultural input costs due to geopolitical tension in the Middle East. In addition, the existing Ploughing Incentive for Padi Farmers (IPKP) was earlier raised from 160 MYR (40.56) to 300 MYR (76.05 USD) per hectare to support farmers cope with higher commercial diesel prices. The Malaysian government said it will continue introducing measures to reduce cost pressures on farmers and vulnerable people amid ongoing global supply challenges.

*1 USD = 3.94 MYR

Source: Vietnam Plus. (2026, May 6). Malaysia advances financial aid to support rice farmers.

Myanmar and China establish B2B to boost rice export to China. According to Myanmar’s Commercial Attaché in Kunming, China, Myanmar and China will establish a Business-to-Business (B2B) pact to boost rice exports, and China’s Bio-Tech Company Limited plans to sign an MoU with a Myanmar rice exporter to provide seeds and encourage farmers to cultivate approved rice varieties. In addition, the company is currently testing four lowland paddy varieties in Nay Pyi Taw, all of which are registered with China’s customs authority. The rice will be milled in Myanmar before being exported to China, as China expands imports under its new “Export to China” policy to meet the national demand.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar. (2026, May 6). China-Myanmar B2B pact to boost rice export to China.

Thailand's rice export is expected to recover in the second half of 2026. Thai rice exporters expect stronger exports in the second half of 2026 as Super El Niño raises concerns over global crop production and prompts key rice importers to increase stockpiles. Meanwhile, Thailand aims to reach its 7 million-tonne export targets despite slow shipments of about 2.2 million tonnes in earlier 2026. In addition, the major rice importers are projected to boost imports for food security, with Malaysia expanding its rice reserves from three months to nine months, and the Philippines expected to import 6.5 million tonnes of rice. Surging rice demand has pushed Thai 5 percent broken rice prices to around 408 USD per tonne from 350 – 370 USD per tonne. Moreover, geopolitical tensions and trade policies in the West remain a concern, the climate-driven demand from Asia is expected to remain the key factor shaping the market for the rest of 2026.

Source: Nation Thailand. (2026, May 12). Thai Rice Exports Set for Second-Half Recovery as Super El Niño Triggers Global Stockpiling.