Thailand hopes to reduce feed costs by importing corn from the US
Thailand said its planned import of 1 million tons of US corn will not hurt local farmers, as annual demand of 8–9 million tons exceeds domestic production of 4.8–5 million tons. Imports will occur before harvest season, while analysts estimate feed production costs could decline by around 8%.
Thailand’s plans to import 1 million tons of corn from the US will not negatively impact local agricultural producers, according to Pozh Aramwattananont, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC).
According to him, Thailand’s annual corn demand is 8-9 million tons, while domestic production only provides 4.8-5 million tons. Therefore, a significant shortage of raw materials remains on the market.
“Imports from the US will be part of the country’s overall corn needs. These measures are aimed at managing the raw material base and ensuring the stability of food supplies,” he explained.
Thailand plans to import US corn from February 1 to June 30—approximately two months before the start of the domestic harvest. A domestic market support mechanism is in place for importers: local and imported corn must be purchased at a 3:1 ratio, with priority given to selling domestically produced corn.
Pozh Aramwattananont noted that the key objective of imports is to maintain stable feed production costs, which directly impacts the prices of socially important foods, including poultry, pork, eggs, and seafood.
According to analysts at the Kasikorn Research Center, importing corn from the US will reduce feed production costs by approximately 8%.
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Source : Ukr Agro Consult
