Politics
Thai Shrimp Industry Seeks Government Support to Address Production Decline
The Thai Shrimp Association has met with government officials to address a decade-long decline in production, citing disease outbreaks and rising costs as Thailand falls to seventh place globally.
According to a report by Prachachat Business, representatives from the Thai Shrimp Association and industry partners recently met with Yotchanan Wongswasdi to discuss chronic challenges facing the sector. The industry has struggled for over a decade with persistent disease outbreaks that have significantly hampered production volumes and increased operational costs.
These factors have caused Thailand’s global standing in the shrimp market to drop from its former position as the world’s leading producer and exporter to seventh place. Current production levels are reported to be approximately 270,000 tons. The association is urging the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) to prioritize research and development to combat these diseases and reduce production costs to help revitalize the industry.
For residents and travelers, this news highlights a significant shift in one of Thailand’s key agricultural sectors. While the report focuses on industrial production and export rankings, it underscores the economic pressure on local farmers. It remains to be confirmed how the government will respond to these requests for intervention and what specific measures will be implemented to support the industry's recovery. There is currently no information regarding how these production challenges might impact the availability or pricing of shrimp in local markets.