Thailand sees limited impact from 1 mln tonnes of US corn imports

Industry associations in Thailand say the planned import of 1 million tonnes of US corn is not expected to significantly affect domestic prices or the situation of local farmers.

Representatives of the country’s livestock and aquaculture industry federation stress that Thailand’s feed corn market is structurally dependent on imports. Annual demand is around 9 million tonnes, while domestic production covers only about 5 million tonnes, creating a shortfall of roughly 4 million tonnes.

According to Thai Feed Mill Association president Pornsil Patcharintanakul, part of the import volume is already used to cover this structural deficit, while new US shipments will partly replace other import sources rather than displacing domestic production.

The industry also highlights that the current 3:1 policy ratio, which requires importers to purchase three parts of domestic corn for every one part imported, continues to protect local farmers and helps prevent sharp price fluctuations in the market.

At the same time, meat producers note that rising feed costs are already putting pressure on farmers, particularly in the poultry sector. However, corn imports are still seen as a tool to stabilise the market and help address the ongoing shortage of feed raw materials.

Tags: Thailand, USA, corn