April 2, 2012

Saha Farms sees end of Thai chicken import ban

Saha Farms Co, a leader in Thai poultry, expects the government of South Korea to remove the ban on Thai frozen chicken imports in July this year.

The move should boost the value of Thai poultry exports to South Korea, which has maintained a ban on Thai products for eight years after bird flu broke out in Thailand in 2004.

Manoonsri Chotitawan, the president of Saha Farms, praised the private sector's participation in the road show to the country with the Thai government.

The company joined the road show in an attempt to urge South Korea to lift the ban, noting the Thai government has improved management to control the spread of bird flu since 2010.

Dr Manoonsri expects a decision by July.

Saha Farms exported 12,000 tonnes of cooked chicken to South Korea last year and expects to ship 15,000 tonnes this year out of total Thai exports of 420,000 tonnes a year.

Thailand recorded a trade deficit with South Korea, exporting agricultural products, electric circuits, computers and components while importing high-technology electrical machinery, steel and metal.

Two-way trade between Thailand and South Korea over the past five years (2008-12) has averaged US$10.47 billion a year.

Last year, it rose to US$13.8 billion. The average trade deficit per year during the period was US$3.43 billion.

Average imports per year from Korea are US$6.96 billion, with 2011 imports totalling US$9.1 billion, up by 14.1% from 2010.

Average exports per year are US$3.53 billion, with 2011 exports totalling US$4.57 billion, up by 26.8% from 2010.