Thailand’s poultry exports may decline for the first time in 20 years in 2026

Thailand’s poultry exports are expected to decline in 2026 for the first time in two decades. According to the Kasikorn Research Center, export revenue is forecast to fall by 13% to $1.255 billion. During the first five months of the year, exports of chilled and frozen chicken products dropped by 20% year-on-year, mainly due to weaker demand from Japan and China, although shipments to Malaysia, South Korea and Hong Kong continue to grow.

One of the main factors behind the decline is China’s decision to suspend imports from 17 of Thailand’s 22 poultry processing plants starting in July 2025 after finding discrepancies between declared export volumes and actual production capacity. The industry is also facing pressure from slowing global demand and intense price competition in the international poultry market.

Tags: export, Thailand, chicken