November 13, 2007
Thailand's soy import regulations unchanged
Thailand's regulations on soy imports remain unchanged and below are import policies next year re-issued on October 2, 2007 by the Thai Cabinet, effective January 1 to December 31, 2008. The US Department of Agriculture has published the details are as follows:
|
Soy |
Tariff Rates |
Other Requirements |
| 1) WTO member countries | In-quota tariff 0% |
- |
| Out-of-quota tariff 80% | ||
|
Tariff rate quota (TRQ) unlimited, but subject to domestic absorption requirement | ||
| 2) ACMES | Same as WTO |
- |
| 3) AFTA | Same as WTO |
- |
| 4) ASEAN-China | TRQ = 10,922 MT |
Other import procedures are accordance with WTO |
| In-quota tariff 20% | ||
| Out-of-quota tariff 80% | ||
| Note: ACMECS = Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy AFTA = ASEAN Free Trade Area | ||
The import policy is essentially unchanged from recent years. The amount of imports from country members of the World Trade Organization is unlimited with a zero import duty. Eligible importers include the Soy and Rice Bran Oil Processor Association, Feedstuff Users Promotion Association, Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association, Thai Feed Mill Association, Broiler Raiser for Exporting Association, Thai Livestock Association, Green Spot Co.,Ltd., Lactasoy Co.,Ltd., Thai Theparos Food Products Public Co.,Ltd., Dairy Plus Co.,Ltd., Thai Chim Co.,Ltd., and Kikkoken Ltd.,Part.
The government continues its domestic absorption practice to protect domestic producers. According to the USDA, eligible importers are required to purchase domestic soy at guaranteed prices that are determined by the Ministry of Commerce. Currently, guaranteed prices for 2008 remain unchanged from the 2007 level. As a result, prices for soy Grade 1 paid by eligible food processors must be no less than 14.00 baht/kilograms at factory (approx. US$ 400/tonne) or 13.00 baht/kg (US$ 371/tonne) at farm. Prices for soy Grade 2 paid by a group of feed manufacturers are no less than 12.00 baht/kg (US$ 343/tonne) at factory or 11.00 baht/kg (US$ 314/tonne) at farm while those for soy Grade 3 paid by a group of soy oil crushers are no less than 11.50 baht/kg (US$ 329/tonne) at factory or 10.50 baht/kg (US$ 300/tonne) at farm, respectively.
Similar conditions also apply to imports under the Ayeyarwaddy-Chao Phaya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMES) and ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).
Imports under ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement will be subject to a tariff quota system amounting 10,922 tonnes while en-quota tariff rates are 20 percent while out-of-quota tariff rates are 80 percent.
Imports of soy which do not fall on any categories as indicated above will be approved by the Ministry of Commerce on a case-by-case basis and are subject to a six percent import duty, according to the USDA.
