| Soybeans
& Soybean Meal Trade
Thailand
Soybean Imports
In 1983, Thailand started growing soybeans
in order to satisfy its poultry industry with raw materials
for feed ingredients. Then, imported soybeans were restricted
under the import quota system. Until 1990, the Thai government
abandoned the import quota and permitted unlimited imports
of soybeans. Since then, the country has increased its soybean
import volume every year, in response to the demand from its
poultry industry, whose exports grew over 85 per cent between
1983 and 1993.
However, because the imported soybeans have higher
quality than domestically produced soybeans, Thailand
increases its soybean imports every year. Since 1990,
Thailand has imported over 61 per cent or about 660,000
metric tons more soybeans in 2000. In order to both
protect and support local soybean growers, the government
decided to re-implement the quota restriction on soybean
imports for the 2000/01 cycle. As a result,Thailand
will only import 1.2 million metric tons, as a maximum
quota.
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Unit: Metric ton
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Unit: Million Baht
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In terms of import value, Thailand
has imported an average of over Bht 8,000 million between
1997 and 2000. The trend will continue to increase,
as Thailand continues to increase its soybean imports.
Because Thailand's geographical location is unsuitable
for growing soybeans, local crushers would rather prefer
to import higher quality soybeans rather than buying
them from local producers. By importing soybeans, local
crushers benefit from good-quality soybeans at a slightly
lower prices than buying from local soybean producers.
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Source: Office of Agricultural Economics, Department of Agriculture
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