Thailand to Import Soybean, Coconut to Maintain Adequate Supplies

The Commerce Ministry plans to open markets and import soybeans and coconuts to maintain adequate supplies, enhance food security, and ensure benefits for Thai farmers, the Bangkok Post reported on August 20. Commerce Minister Jatuporn Buruspat chaired this year’s first meeting of the Oilseed and Vegetable Oil Committee, which considered and approved several issues to ensure a steady and adequate supply of raw material for factories that rely on soybeans and coconuts, while continuing to protect local farmers.
The panel agreed to open the market and manage imports of soybean meal for human consumption and other industrial uses, in line with Thailand’s commitments under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture and related free trade agreements (FTAs) for 2025-2027.  The committee also decided to implement a three-year import management plan for soybeans (2026-2028) to support the oil extraction, animal feed production, and food processing industries. 
Another goal is managing the market opening and import of soybean oil and its fractions, coconuts, desiccated coconut, and coconut oil from 2026-2028, in accordance with Thailand’s commitments under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture and other FTAs. The imports will be based on domestic market demand.