Major importing countries
China
China is the biggest market for Thai tapioca chip exports, followed
by South Korea and the Netherlands. It imports approximately
150,000 tons from Thailand per annum. Thailand’s share in the
Chinese market reaches as much as 50 percent of total imports,
with only two major competitors – Indonesia and Vietnam. Thai
tapioca chip exports will be even brighter when China’s commitment
to reduce import tariffs for tapioca chips and pellets to 5
percent by 2004 is taken into account. In addition, in 2001/2002
China remained a big market for Thai chip exports, since the
country’s grain production was limited by drought. The production
of corn, an alternative for tapioca, is likely to drop 20-30
percent from normal levels.
Table: China’s import volume
of tapioca chips from Thailand, 1999-2001
| Year |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
| Import
volume |
133,986
|
182,100
|
155,261 |
73,900
|
1,638,726 |
Quantity: metric tons
Source: Board of Trade of Thailand
| Export
market |
 |
|
