February 18, 2008

Thai '08 poultry exports up 4.5 percent at 345,000 tonnes

Thailand's 2008 poultry exports are projected to rise 4.5 percent to 345,000 tonnes despite the return of bird flu, the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association said Friday (February 15).

Exports will likely stay strong this year as demand remains healthy; local processors have improved sanitary standards and added value to chicken products, said Pornsri Laurujisawat, manager of the association.

She said the fresh outbreak of bird flu at farms in Nakhon Sawan and Phichit provinces late last month was unlikely to have much impact on poultry exports, as the country ships mostly cooked and semi-processed meat.

To help boost exports, the association will ask the government to negotiate with South Korea on reducing import tariffs on cooked chicken products, currently at 30 percent, and value-added tax, currently at 10 percent.

South Korea is the third-largest poultry export market for Thailand.

According to the association, the top two export markets are the European Union and Japan, accounting for 48 percent and 43 percent of the total respectively.