Thai Corn Price Skyrockets to 13 Baht/Kg: Livestock Associations Defend US Imports

Thansettakij•Economy•3d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai livestock industry defends importing US corn to address domestic shortages and high prices, aiming to stabilize feed costs.

•Thai corn prices have reached a global high of 13 baht/kg, prompting 21 livestock and aquaculture associations to explain the need for US imports.
•Imports are deemed necessary to mitigate domestic shortages, with Thailand producing 5 million tons against a demand of 9 million tons annually.
•The government's 3:1 import-to-domestic purchase ratio aims to protect local farmers, ensuring imported corn replaces wheat rather than Thai corn.
•The industry highlights that alternative domestic feed ingredients have nutritional and logistical limitations, increasing production costs.

Overview

•21 livestock and aquaculture associations in Thailand gathered to clarify the necessity of importing animal feed corn from the US.
•The import of US corn is deemed necessary due to a domestic shortage, with Thailand producing 5 million tons against a demand of 9 million tons annually.
•The current price of Thai animal feed corn has surpassed 13 baht per kilogram, making it the most expensive globally.
•The Thai government employs a 3:1 ratio, requiring importers to purchase three tons of domestic corn for every one ton imported, to protect local farmers.
•The livestock and fisheries industries face high production costs due to rising feed prices, which also pressure protein product prices for consumers.
•Alternative domestic feed ingredients like rice, broken rice, rice bran, and cassava have limitations in nutrition, safety, market demand, and specific properties.
•The Thai Livestock and Aquaculture Federation asserts that the import of US corn will not displace Thai farmers' produce.
•Concerns regarding GMO corn are addressed, with the federation reiterating the global and long-standing safe use of GMO soybeans in Thailand.

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Key Quotes

พรศิลป์ พัชรินทร์ตนะกุล (Pornsirl Pacharintanakul)

"The import of US corn for animal feed is necessary due to two key factors."

การนำเข้าข้าวโพดเลี้ยงสัตว์จากสหรัฐอเมริกามีความจำเป็นจาก 2 ปัจจัยสำคัญ

พรศิลป์ พัชรินทร์ตนะกุล (Pornsirl Pacharintanakul)

"Currently, the price of Thai animal feed corn has exceeded 13 baht per kilogram, considered the highest in the world."

ปัจจุบันราคาข้าวโพดเลี้ยงสัตว์ของไทยปรับตัวสูงเกิน 13 บาทต่อกิโลกรัม ซึ่งถือว่าสูงที่สุดในโลก

สมาพันธ์ปศุสัตว์และเพาะเลี้ยงสัตว์น้ำไทย (Thai Livestock and Aquaculture Federation)

"Opening imports of 1 million tons of corn from the US will not replace the production of Thai farmers."

การเปิดให้นำเข้าข้าวโพดจากสหรัฐ 1 ล้านตัน ไม่ได้เข้ามาแทนที่ผลผลิตข้าวโพดของเกษตรกรไทย

สมาพันธ์ปศุสัตว์และเพาะเลี้ยงสัตว์น้ำไทย (Thai Livestock and Aquaculture Federation)

"The federation confirms that GMOs are widely used globally, including in Thailand, especially for soybeans in the feed industry for over 30 years."

สมาพันธ์ฯ ยืนยันว่ามีการใช้อย่างแพร่หลายทั่วโลก รวมถึงในประเทศไทย โดยเฉพาะถั่วเหลือง GMO ที่ใช้ในอุตสาหกรรมอาหารและอาหารสัตว์มานานกว่า 30 ปี

Key Entities

Place

Thailand(ไทย)ℹ️

Country facing high corn prices and discussing import policies.

United States of America(สหรัฐอเมริกา)ℹ️

Supplier of corn under discussion for import into Thailand.

Organization

Thai Livestock and Aquaculture Federation(สมาพันธ์ปศุสัตว์และเพาะเลี้ยงสัตว์น้ำไทย)

Organization representing livestock and aquaculture stakeholders, advocating for US corn imports.

World Trade Organization (WTO)(คณะกรรมการการค้าระหว่างประเทศ (WTO))ℹ️

International trade body under whose framework corn imports are discussed.

Thai Feed Millers Association(สมาคมผู้ผลิตอาหารสัตว์ไทย)

Association whose president is a key spokesperson regarding corn imports.

Swine Raisers Association(สมาคมผู้เลี้ยงสุกร)

Industry association participating in discussions about corn imports for animal feed.

Broiler Raisers Association(สมาคมผู้เลี้ยงไก่เนื้อ)

Industry association participating in discussions about corn imports for animal feed.

Layer Raisers Association(สมาคมผู้เลี้ยงไก่ไข่)

Industry association participating in discussions about corn imports for animal feed.

US Supreme Court(ศาลฎีกาสหรัฐฯ)ℹ️

Court whose ruling on import tariffs was mentioned as a related but now-overturned issue.

Thai Chamber of Commerce(หอการค้าไทย)ℹ️

Organization that supports the import of 1 million tons of US corn, claiming it will not harm Thai farmers.

Field Crops Association(สมาคมพืชไร่)

Association that disagrees with the Thai Chamber of Commerce regarding US corn imports, concerned about farmer impact and GMO risks.

Person

Pornsirl Pacharintanakul(นายพรศิลป์ พัชรินทร์ตนะกุล)

President of the Thai Feed Millers Association and Secretary-General of the Thai Livestock and Aquaculture Federation, explaining import rationale.

Suriya(สุริยะ)

Advisor whose stance against GMO corn imports, citing concerns about repeating the soybean issue, was noted.

Law

AFTA

Framework under which corn imports have reduced significantly, linked to 'zero burning' measures.

GMOℹ️

Genetically Modified Organism, a point of contention regarding corn imports and its safety and impact on exports.