USDA Recruiting Exporters for February Trade Mission to Thailand

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service will host its first-ever trade mission to Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 3-6, 2025. Current and potential U.S. exporters interested in participating should apply for consideration by Oct. 29. 

“This mission represents an important opportunity for our farmers, ranchers, producers and agribusinesses to connect with potential partners from both Thailand and Burma,” said FAS Administrator Daniel B. Whitley. “Consumers in these markets are ready to stock their pantries with the world-class, high-quality food and farm products offered by the U.S. exporters that join us in February.” 

While in Bangkok, U.S. agribusiness representatives will take part in business-to-business meetings with potential importers from both Thailand and Burma and will learn about local and regional market conditions through site visits and in-depth market briefings by FAS staff and other regional trade experts.

The United States was the fifth-largest supplier of agricultural products to Thailand in 2023, with $1.2 billion in exports. The top U.S. exports were bulk commodities used for feed and food manufacturing, but strong opportunities exist for consumer-oriented products as well. Thailand boasts the fourth-highest per capita income in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and real GDP growth is forecast at 2.6 percent in 2024, compared to 1.9 percent in 2022 A population of 70 million and an expanding middle class are driving demand for imported products. 

U.S. exporters have opportunities in many sectors in Thailand, including dairy products, food preparations, seafood, tree nuts, fresh fruits, chocolate and cocoa, beef, wine, distilled spirits, hops, beer and food ingredients. In Burma opportunities exist for food preparations, dairy products such as cheese and whey, processed potatoes, fresh fruits, chocolate and cocoa, condiments and sauces, packaged foods, non-alcoholic beverages, wine, distilled spirits and seafood products.

To learn more about the trade mission and to apply to take part, visit: https://fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions/thailand-february-2025.

In addition to the Thailand trade mission, USDA intends to lead missions to Cote d’Ivoire, the Dominican Republic Guatemala, Hong Kong, Mexico and Peru in 2025. Watch https://fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions for details.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

###

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.