Thai food exporters have found opportunities amid the current crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As consumers around the world visit supermarkets and dine in restaurants less often, they are buying more processed and canned foods to cook at home, as well as more ready-to-eat foods.

Thailand has seen healthy growth in exports of processed foods such as canned fruits and vegetables and seafood, which is partly attributed to the economic recovery in these buying countries. This trend has highlighted the strength and diversity of Thailand’s food supply chain, which serves the country’s goal of producing food to meet the growing demand of global consumers for nutritious and functional foods that meet the needs of their specific needs.

Healthy food exports

As the pandemic has hurt global trade, Thailand has seen healthy growth in exports of food and products associated with the new normal, such as smart electronics, furniture and home décor, and medical devices.

Official data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that Thailand’s total export volume contracted by 6% in 2020, with the global export food market share rising to 2.3%. In the context of the pandemic, fresh, frozen and dried fruits increased by 14%; canned and processed fruits by 2%; 30% powdered soup; frozen poultry by 15%; 8% processed fruit; 8% seasoning sauces; canned and processed seafood by 5%; 2% non-alcoholic drinks; and animal feed by 19%. Data from the Thai Food Processors’ Association showed that exports of ready-to-eat foods increased by 6% in volume in 2020. Asian markets including China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia and the CLMV group of countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) were among the top importers of Thai food products in 2020.

The performance of Thailand’s food exports in 2020 has been in line with the government’s development plan for the industry, which focuses on high-value food products or what is called “food for the future” due to of its potential to generate higher returns and wider impacts on the country’s industrial supply chain.

The government’s development goals include establishing Thailand as one of the world’s top ten food exporters by 2027. Thailand was ranked 13th in 2020 and 11th in 2019, the United States, the Netherlands, Brazil, Germany and China ranking among the top five food exporters. .

Two-thirds of the products in Thailand’s US $ 100 billion food market are sold locally, while the country’s food exports are fairly evenly split between processed and raw foods.

Based on the forecast for global economic growth of 5.5%, Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce predicts an increase in Thai food exports by 7%, with frozen seafood exports expected to increase by 2% in 2021.

Transparency Reassured

The Thai government has applied blockchain technology which enables the traceability of locally produced food products. By scanning QR codes and tracing manufacturing lots in the government database through the www.TraceThai.com website, Thai food buyers can trace the origin and track the journey of products from harvesting and manufacturing to processing and throughout the transportation process, as well as view the organic certificates that have been issued . This initiative will further enhance the credibility and transparency of Thai food products with consumers in terms of safety, environment and other social issues.

Through cooperation with agencies at the provincial level and its overseas representative office, the Thai government plans to sign at least 150 farm groups for the blockchain project. In addition, the Thai government’s ongoing process of streamlining government agency digital databases will better facilitate the development of Thailand’s food and agricultural products.

With top priority on gaining the confidence of global consumers in exported Thai food products, the Thai government has also launched the “Thailand Delivers Safely” campaign to strengthen monitoring of measures implemented by food producers. premises and logistics service providers to prevent against COVID. -19 viral contamination of frozen foods and other food products.

As Thai foods have become globally recognized for their high standards of safety and quality through adherence to GMP, HACPP and GAP, food producers across the country are joining a “quality plus” campaign that aims to encourage all food producers to improve their quality assurance. standards.

Future in hand

The global integration of plant-based meat is happening not only within vegan and vegetarian communities, but also among consumers who are increasingly focusing on health impacts and solutions to climate change. Meat of plant origin also offers a more affordable protein alternative.

This global shift, which is evidenced by the entry of plant-based meat into major global food chains, portends a bright future for Thailand as not only a major producer of agricultural products such as beans. , fruits, vegetables, herbs, cassava, corn and rice, but also a promising producer of foods of the future.

Taking advantage of this new trend, startups and food companies in Thailand have rolled out plant-based meat produced from various materials such as mushrooms, jackfruit, rice, coconut and beet, as well than beans, to serve local and global markets.

A study by the National Science Technology and Innovation Policy Office (STI) showed that the food industry is one of the second largest industrial sectors investing in R&D, after the automotive industry. R&D activities in the food industry cover a wide range of areas including automated production processes, packaging development, consumer behavior and new product development, valued at US $ 530 million. in 2018, many companies are now establishing r & d centers, either on their own premises or in science parks.

According to Food Innopolis, about 25% of Thai food researchers have expertise in grains, grains and legumes, followed by 17% in functional foods; 13% in vegetables and mushrooms; 12% each in seafood and meat; 8% each in dairy products, herbs, spices and essential oils; and the rest in juice, sugar and tapioca starch.