June 16, 2004

 

 

South Korea Allows Partial Access To Thai Poultry Exports
 

Two Thai suppliers still face a ban on exporting heat-treated poultry to South Korea, but seven processors have regained access to that market.

 

On Monday, Korea's Agricultural Ministry informed the Livestock Development Department that the country would accept cooked poultry products from qualified Thai producers. Korea has boycotted all Thai chicken products since January following the outbreak of bird flu here.

 

The private sector has assessed the total damage to the poultry industry from the bird flu crisis at Bt37 billion for losses in both exports and domestic consumption.

 

Director-general Yukol Limlamthong said yesterday that it was good news for the local chicken industry to be able to ship to South Korea again.

 

Earlier, 35 companies proposed to Korean officials to have their plants inspected, however, only nine were selected. The Livestock Department did not say if all nine exporters were approved but an industry source said all but two had passed scrutiny.

 

The source said the seven successful processors were Saha Farms Co Ltd, Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc, Mckee, Leamthong Group, Grampion Siam, Bangkok Ranch and Yoo Soong Industry Co Ltd.

 

The department yesterday called a meeting with chicken exporters to draw up the country's manufacturing and export plan for the rest of this year, after major importing countries resumed purchases of Thai chicken.

 

Anan Sirimongkolkasem, president of the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association, said members would promptly ship products to the re-opened markets.

 

The association and the department agreed to lower this year's export target for chicken products to 150,000 tonnes worth Bt20 billion, from 220,000 tonnes forecast just last month. Early this year the association predicted total exports of 330,000 tonnes before the bird flu became widespread.

 

"We have to assess chicken exports every month to ensure our goal," Anan said.

 

Thummanoon Pornrojanagoon, vice president of Saha Farms, said the company would immediately start steaming poultry for export to Korea with output expected to reach at least 2,000 tonnes per month.

 

"Our processing plant is well prepared to produce all chicken products for the Korean market," he said.