Thailand to increase US corn imports amid declining supplies from neighboring countries

Thailand plans to import between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of U.S. corn in the fourth quarter of 2026 to offset a shortage of feed ingredients caused by declining supplies from neighboring countries. Even so, the planned purchases will remain well below the country’s import quota of 570,000 tons.

According to Sompob Auesongtham, Secretary General of the Thai Feed Mill Association (TFMA), corn imports from neighboring countries could decline to around 800,000 tons this year, increasing pressure on the domestic feed market.

The situation has been further aggravated by disruptions to agricultural raw material supplies from Cambodia due to the border conflict between the two countries. Thailand is expected to lose access to about 2 mln tons of cassava, a key ingredient traditionally used in animal feed production.

To cope with the shortage, feed manufacturers have increasingly turned to alternative ingredients, including rice bran and palm kernel meal. However, industry representatives warn that these substitutes may reduce animal productivity and slow growth rates.

Market participants believe that higher imports of U.S. corn will help partially offset the feed ingredient deficit and support the stability of Thailand’s feed industry. Nevertheless, logistical challenges and geopolitical tensions continue to pose significant risks to the country’s feed and livestock sectors.

Tags: corn, Thailand, imports