September 20, 2004

Thailand To Increase Exports Of Boiled Chicken

Thai firms, which produce chicken products for export, are to switch to boiled chickens instead of fresh chickens because of the current bird flu epidemic.

With the avian influenza still rampant in Thailand, key importers of Thai chickens, including Japan and the US, are still banning the import of frozen chickens. They only allow boiled chickens into their countries, said the Commerce Minister Watana Muangsook.

Companies which process chickens have been advised to produce more boiled chickens, which are now more expensive.

Thailand currently exports some 500,000 tons of chickens every year, 60% of which are frozen chickens and the rest boiled chickens.

Thailand will have to export more boiled chickens in future, if importers continue to refuse to take frozen chicken because of bird flu concerns, the minister said.