November 30, 2010

Thailand's poultry exports remain promising

Thailand's chicken exports should stay promising in the following year despite the faltering global economic outlook.

Exports are forecast to be worth between THB1.65 billion (US$54.7 million) and THB1.73 billion (US$57.3 million) in 2011 compared with THB1.57 billion (US$52 million) this year. This is a 10% increase from last year, said Anan Sirimongkolkasem, president of the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association.

Thailand is expected to ship 410,000-420,000 tonnes of poultry this year, of which 360,000 tonnes would be cooked products while the remainder would be frozen raw chicken. Sirimongkolkasem said raw chicken exports were better than expected this year, with further growth to be seen next year due to a bigger global population requiring more food.

In 2003, before the bird flu outbreak, Thailand exported 98,231 tonnes of raw chicken meat to the EU. Thailand currently ships only cooked chicken products to the EU which has an import quota. The quota is 252,643 tonnes: Of which 160,033 tonnes are processed chicken and 92,610 tonnes are salted poultry.

EU inspectors are scheduled to visit Thailand in March to review preventive animal health measures and animal welfare standards as well as re-evaluate possible reinstatement of raw chicken meat imports.