Thailand’s chicken exports are likely to grow by 10% this year, boosted by higher demand in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Anan Sirimongkolkasem, president of the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association, said Thailand’s chicken exports are estimated to rise by 33 billion baht this year to 140 billion, although foreign purchase orders may drop in the second and third quarters thanks to lockdown measures introduced by several countries including the US, EU member states and Japan to curb the spread of Covid-19.
In the first quarter, Thailand shipped a total of 229,572 tonnes of chicken, up 2.7% year-on-year, with value totalling US$881 million, up 7.2% from the same quarter of last year.
Prasit Boondoungprasert, chief executive of Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF), said higher chicken export opportunity is anticipated thanks to Thailand’s positive image in controlling the Covid-19 outbreak, which builds importers’ confidence in Thailand’s food safety and food security measures.
Japan, a leading buyer of Thailand’s chicken, is expected to buy even more as rival Brazil faces an escalation in Covid-19 cases.
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said he talked with the association as well as companies such as CPF, GFPT and Cargill.
They feel Thailand’s fresh, frozen and processed chicken export prospects remain promising.
“Covid-19 may disrupt the transport and logistic systems, or result in higher costs thanks to stricter safety measures, but many countries are interested in importing Thai chicken thanks to effective measures in handling the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Mr Jurin.
He said in order to boost exports the private sector has urged the Commerce Ministry to speed up free trade agreements between Thailand and the EU as well as Britain.
The ministry is also being urged to tap new countries where Thailand’s market share for chicken remains relatively low such as the US, Belgium, Denmark, Australia, Sweden, Britain, Germany, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, China, France, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and Taiwan.