November 21, 2016

Thailand resumes chicken exports to So. Korea after 12-year ban

Thai chicken imports are again welcome in South Korea following a 12-year-long ban imposed after an avian influenza outbreak in 2004.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said Friday, Nov. 18, that South Korea

resumed imports of Thai chicken this month, Bangkok Post reported. 

Chatchai said Seoul had approved 12 factories processing raw chicken to supply meat to the South Korean market and that 18 other chicken-processing factories would be inspected by South Korean officials early next year for possible certification.

"South Korea used to import 30,000-40,000 tonnes of chilled and frozen chicken from Thailand annually. If old customers are regained, exports could be worth about 3 billion baht (US$84.5 million) a year," Chatchai was quoted as saying in the Bangkok Post report.