Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a major increase in US feed corn imports, raising the quota to 1 million tons at zero tariff between February and June 2026. This replaces the previous annual quota of 54,700 tons at a 20% tariff. The government confirmed the decision is part of ongoing trade discussions with the United States.
To protect local corn producers, feed mills are required to purchase three tons of domestically grown corn for each ton of imported US corn. The import period is scheduled outside Thailand’s main harvest season to help stabilize local prices. The policy also reflects efforts to reduce cross-border air pollution, as US agricultural practices generally avoid slash-and-burn methods.
The National Economic and Social Development Council has urged the government to implement traceability for imported corn and enforce GMO and anti-burning regulations to maintain safety and preserve export access to markets such as the European Union and Japan. The council also recommended incentives to increase domestic feed production and develop alternative ingredients to reduce import dependence.
Thailand consumes about 9 million tons of feed corn annually, importing 4 to 5 million tons. Total feed demand is expected to reach 21.8 million tons in 2025, up from 21.1 million tons in 2024. Authorities also approved soybean meal imports from 11 suppliers between 2026 and 2028, with a tariff of 2%. Recent environmental and trade measures reflect a preference for US corn over imports from neighboring countries where crop burning remains common.
(Source: nutriNews)
