December 9, 2004

CP Expects Shrimp, Chicken Exports To Increase In 2005

Shrimp exporters can expect a good year in 2005 after the European Union announced its intention to renew Thailand's access to reduced import tariffs under the EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), an industry executive said.

Adirek Sripratak, president and chief executive officer of Charoen Pokaphand Feed Plc, said Thailand could see a major increase in its shrimp exports to the EU from its current level of 7,000 tons.

The EU's decision came as the Thai government was attempting to link the purchase of Airbus planes from France to an increase in imports of Thai farm goods.

If successful, the negotiations could help reduce the import tariff on shrimps by at least 4 per cent.

Mr. Adirek also expressed confidence that the export of Thai chicken would begin to improve next year, as the government had managed to contain the outbreak of bird flu.

Simultaneously, local chicken sales were increasing as consumer confidence returned.

Mr. Adirek said his own company had been seen an increase in orders of cooked chicken from both the EU and Japan, and he predicted chicken exports would continue to increase by 20 per cent to 300,000 tons next year.