65
SEP2017 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND
SPECIAL
REPORT
“Regarding (traditional) ASEAN market, the first
quarter’s export value totaled THB 27,604 million,
dropping by 27.6%. The main products that felt the
most impact were rice, sugar, and tapioca starch.
Exports to other markets, however, continued to
expand,especially toCLMVwhere thegrowthhit11%.
The top-performing products included beverages,
sugar, fresh fruits, anddairyproductswhileexports to
Japan went up by 8.4%mainly in terms of frozen or
processed chicken and shrimps.”
Mr.Yongvut states that the overall picture of Thai
foodexport in2017 isanticipated to riseby5.3%,with
anestimated valueat THB1 trillion, while the second
quarter is predicted to amount THB 250,330 million,
growingby6.2%, thanks to increasingpurchaseorders
that areexpected tobouncebackafteraslumpearlier
this year. Additionally, rawmaterials have increased
in terms of stock, thus being able to satisfy factories’
higher demand. Main products that are forecasted to
increase insalesand thuscontributepositively toThai
foodexport industry in thesecondquarterarechicken,
canned tuna,shrimps,cannedpineapple,seasonings
& condiments, and coconut products. Sugar and
tapioca starch sales are anticipated to slow down
although itsoverallperformancemay farebetter than
that of the first quarter.
Mr.Hiroki Mitsumata, President of JETRO
Bangkok, says that theMOI is aimed to strengthen
Thai-Japanesebusiness relationshipsand tohelp the
food industry inbothcountries toachievewider frames
by focusing on the expansion of processed food
marketwithThailandas theproductionbase forhigh-
potential third-partycountriessuchasASEAN, India,
and theMiddleEast.By implementing theFoodValue
Chainstrategy, rawmaterialsare tobe imported from
Japan for themanufacturingof products inThailand.
Japan’soverall export value in food, agricultural,
forestry, and fishery products has continually grown
for the fourth year since 2013. In 2016, the export
valuehit JPY750,300millionwhile the2019 targeted
export value is projected at JPY1 trillion.
Japan’s food export to Thailand in 2016 hurtled
8.2% lower, totaling JPY 32,900 million. Thailand ranked 6
th
in
Japan’s export industry with pork skin, tuna, and saba mackerel as main
products.Thedeclinewasdue to thestrongerJPYand lackoffisherysupply inJapan.
It isanticipated that in2017 thegrowthwill return tonormal,withanaverage increase
by 10%annually.
Mr.Mitsumata further mentions that, in order to concretely initiate the collaboration
under theMOI, theNFI and JETRO have also unofficially organized businessmatching
inTHAIFEX-World of FoodAsia 2017
