64
SEP2017
FOOD FOCUS THAILAND
SPECIAL
REPORT
Mr.Yongvut Saovapruk, President of theNational Food Institute,
Ministry of Industry, says the MOI is aimed to serve clearer target
groups such as Thai-Japanese food manufacturers that mutually
need to import and export their products, overseas companies
planning toestablish joint ventureprojectswith local partners, those
aiming for business expansion in Thailand or Japan, and food
exporters targeting other countries while relying on Thailand as a
productionhub.Theservicesareclassified into2categories:1)Data
and consultancy services providing information regarding rules,
regulations, food standards, import-export procedures, food safety
regulations, new measures, trend and marketing information, and
lab-based food analysis 2) Organization of academic seminars
addressing food business issues to boost up the potential of
entrepreneurs and to facilitateThai-Japanesebusinessmatching.
In2016,Thailand’s total foodexport toJapan increasedby8%YoY
toTHB132billion,withJapanas thecountry’ssecondbiggestexport
market after ASEAN. Top performing products included chicken,
shrimps, canned tuna, ready-to-eat food, and canned pineapple. In
The National Food Institute (NFI), Ministry of Industry, and
JapanExternalTradeOrganization (JETRO),Bangkok, jointly
signaMemorandumof Intent (MOI)asan initial collaborative
effort to stimulate Thai-Japanese food industry. The MOI
covers imports,exports, jointventures,consultancy,business
matching,andThai-Japanesebusinessexpansion.Highlighted
is themain “FoodValueChain” strategy, with an aim to turn
Thailand into an efficient manufacturing hub for processed
food tobeexported toASEANcountries, India,and theMiddle
East.
thefirstquarterof2017,Thailandgrossed
THB 33,064 million in food export to
Japan, expanding by 8.4%.
Mr.Yongvut further adds that the
overallThai foodexport in thefirstquarter
of 2017 fell by 1.2%YoY toTHB 236,329
million while the exports in greenback
conditions amountedUSD 6,736million,
moving up by 0.3%, with Thai Baht’s
appreciationas thecauseof the reduced
revenue. The main products with
decreasedexport valuewere rice, sugar,
tapioca starch, shrimps, canned
Theoverall pictureof Thai foodexport
in 2017 is anticipated to riseby 5.3%,
withanestimatedvalueatTHB1 trillion,
while the secondquarter is predicted
toamount THB 250,330million,
growingby 6.2%
pineapple, and fruit juice. Rice shipments declined in accordance
with lower demand from bigger importers such as Indonesia and
African countries. Sugar went downhill due to lower supply of sugar
caneswhileChinese importers turnedaway from tapioca in favor of
cereal-based starch instead. Shrimps experienced a lesser degree
of decreasebecauseof theflooding inThailand’ssouthern regionat
theendof last year. Cannedpineappleand fruit juice salesdropped
since business partners slowed down the purchases.
“Best-performing exports, on the other hand, were chicken,
coconut products, and ready-to-eat food. Chicken sales rose
considerably after Japan, our main partner, was faced with bird flu
situation while South Korea, who recently started importing raw
chicken from Thailand, also suffered the same problem. Coconut
products, which usually performwell in health-orientedmarket, did
better in response to increasing world demand while ready-to-eat
foodshipmentssoaredamongstASEANcountries, theUnitedStates,
Japan, andAustralia”.
