August 7, 2007

Japanese market presents great opportunity for Thai shrimp
 

Japan presents great opportunity for Thai shrimp, according to Niwat Sutheemeechaikul, deputy director-general of Thailand's Fisheries Department.

Following the recent 9th Japan International Seafood & Technology Expo in Tokyo, Sutheemeechaikul observed that Thai frozen and processed shrimp products caught the attention of many Japanese importers.

The event also acted as a platform for Japanese importers and Thai exporters to meet and negotiate transactions.

Seafood trade between Japan, China and Vietnam has been fraught with difficulties due to Chinese and Vietnamese products being found tainted with antibiotics. Consequently, Japanese buyers, confident of Thailand's seafood quality and safety standards, have increasingly welcomed Thai fishery products.

Sutheemeechaikul expects the annual value of Thai shrimp and other seafood exports to Japan to rise by THB5-6 billion from THB40 billion by end-2007.

THB1=US$0.0336 (Aug 7)