Southern Thailand faces acute black sticky rice shortages as regional mills seek supplies from Vietnam to meet demand from traditional dessert makers. Domestic supply—particularly the "Lum Phua" variety—is insufficient, pushing prices from 37–38 ฿/kg to 60–70 ฿/kg. Import costs (shipping, tariffs, border logistics) raise Vietnamese rice prices to 42–44 ฿/kg wholesale; traders in Phatthalung are negotiating with provincial commerce for a ~900-tonne import quota. Long-term solution: government incentives for domestic black sticky rice farming in suitable dryland areas, supported by seed supply, cost-reduction measures, and market planning to avoid future oversupply.