Production
Thailand production statistics
Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of tapioca, representing
about 80 percent of total world exports. However, Thailand ranks
only third among the world’s producers of tapioca, after Brazil
and Nigeria. Most other countries produce for local consumption
rather than for exports.
Despite the world’s 1.4 percent increase
in tapioca production in 2001, Thailand’s tapioca production
fell 4.2 percent, as many farmers switched to other kinds
of crop. At the same time, Brazil’s production rose 4.4 percent,
while production in Africa increased 1.1 percent, as tapioca
is the major food item in those countries and has a lot of
support from their governments.
Because of the drop in production, the
raw material price in Thailand improved in 2001 and 2002,
following several years of depressed prices. Higher demand
from China for alcohol production also contributed to the
price increase.
In 2001, 49 percent of exported cassava
products were tapioca pellets, while 29 percent were tapioca
chips. This was significantly different from the ratio in
2000, when pellet exports comprised up to 70 percent of the
total, while chip exports were merely 4 percent. The increase
in chip exports was mostly to China, for alcohol production,
and the drop in pellet exports was due to the BSE scare in
the EU, causing reduced feed imports.
Thai tapioca production in 2002
is expected to fall by over 5 percent from last year to 17.3
million tons, as farmers switch to more profitable crops such
as sugarcane. Exports in 2002 are expected to stand between
5.8-6.0 million tons, close to the level in 2001, while export
value is expected to increase by about 10 percent, in line
with world prices.
Table 5 Thai cassava production
in 1997-2001
| Year |
Thai production (million
tons) |
Percentage change |
World production (million
tons) |
Thailand’s market
share |
| 1997 |
18.1 |
+4.0% |
165.3 |
10.9% |
| 1998 |
15.6 |
-13.8% |
162.7 |
9.6% |
| 1999 |
16.5 |
+5.8% |
172.7 |
9.6% |
| 2000 |
19.1 |
+15.8% |
175.6 |
10.9% |
| 2001 |
18.3 |
-4.2% |
178.0 |
10.3% |
Source: FAO Food Outlook
|
