October 7, 2005

UK likely to up Thai shrimp import under new system

Under the new generalised system of preferences, the EU is likely to raise shrimp imports to 110,000 tonnes this year from 90,000 tonnes last year, according to major UK importer of Thai chicken and shrimp, Fusion Foods.

Imports could reach 140,000 tonnes in 2006, with the bulk of the increase-12,000 tonnes-coming from Thailand, it added.

Fusion's managing director Robert Miller added that UK retailers are very stringent buyers.

However, after the antibiotic-residue and the bird-flu issues, Thailand is exporting even more chicken to the UK because of the excellent food-safety record of Thai processed food, which is among the best in both the UK and the rest of Europe, Miller said.

Last year, the UK imported 465,000 tonnes of chicken, of which 42,000 tonnes, or 9 percent, came from Thailand.