Thailand extends MBM supplies from US plants
Following audits by Thai officials at the US plants, the eligible list has now grown from four to eight companies, after negotiations between US and Thai officials resulted in new import protocols for MBM products being agreed.
The new facilities eligible for export to Thailand include three JBS Inc facilities, two APC Inc plants, four Pilgrims Inc, and two Smithfield facilities.
According to a Global Agricultural Information Network report from the FAS, Thailand’s MBM imports totalled $152m in 2013 - around 10% of the total market.
It added that trade sources believed these newly approved facilities could contribute an additional $2m-$3m of exports annually.
Thailand imported around $14.5m-worth of MBM imports from the US last year, compared with $33.4m from Italy and $56.6m from Germany.
