BANGKOK-Food production during the first half of the year shrunk by 8.6 percent year-on-year, with food exports down two percent to 500 billion baht, due to the COVID-19 situation.
The Director of the National Food Institute, Anong Paijitprapaporn, said, while food exports overall contracted, processed food sales grew 0.1 percent to a value of 238 billion baht, with canned tuna, condiments and ready-to-eat meals the top three products. Sugar, tapioca powder and frozen shrimp appeared to be least impacted by the situation. Thailand’s main buyer remained China, with exports to the country up 27.4 percent, followed by the United States, up 14 percent, and Oceania, up 8.5 percent.
For the latter half of the year, Mrs. Anong believes exports will return to positive territory and that 1 trillion baht worth of food products will be sold by year’s end, up 0.8 percent. Top sellers forecast for this year include chicken, canned tuna, condiments, ready-to-eat meals and pineapple. Key factors will be global economic recovery with fluctuations in the Thai baht still a major concern.
Source: Thai National News Bureau
