Is the High Profit of Thai Food Agency Coming to an End?

When Mr. Zhang first saw the Thai durian mooncakes priced at 68 yuan on the supermarket shelves in Shenzhen, he realized that there was a market worth hundreds of billions of yuan hidden behind it. As the world's third - largest food exporter, Thailand transports more than 2 million tons of food to China every year. From tropical fruits to pre - prepared food packages, the cuisine of this Southeast Asian country is quietly changing our dining tables.

Data from the Thai Food Industry Development Committee shows that in 2023, food exports to China increased by 23% year - on - year, and three ace categories performed particularly well:

• Tropical Fruit Products: There has been a surge in demand for innovative products such as dried durian and mango sticky rice premix powder.
• Healthy Ready - to - Eat Meals: Low - fat tom yum goong soup base, vegetarian Thai stir - fried rice noodles, etc. are in line with modern consumption trends.
• Special Seasonings: Basil sauce, lemongrass powder, etc. make it easy to replicate Thai flavors in home kitchens.

Ms. Li's import company once suffered heavy losses due to a lack of understanding of Thai business customs. Through the professional guidance of Zhongshitong, she summarized the obstacles that practitioners must overcome:

The Certification Maze: Thai food exports need to meet both FDA certification, Halal certification, and the quarantine standards of the Chinese Customs. Durian alone has 17 test indicators.

The Cold Chain Trap: 40% of transportation losses occur during the transfer process. Professional agents will establish a full - process temperature - control system from the Bangkok factory to the Chinese warehouse.

The Cultural Divide: Thai suppliers attach more importance to long - term cooperative relationships, and directly pressing for price cuts may have the opposite effect.

By observing the operation models of top agents, a clear business logic can be found:

• Upstream: Set up direct - purchasing offices in food industry clusters such as Chiang Mai and Chonburi.
• Midstream: Sign exclusive agency agreements with factories with HACCP certification.
• Downstream: Provide domestic e - commerce platforms with a complete package of compliance documents and marketing materials.

With the in - depth implementation of the tariff reduction policy under the RCEP Agreement, fruits such as Thai mangosteens and longans will gradually achieve zero tariffs. However, it is worth noting that:

Category Sub - division: The growth rate of high - end categories such as infant complementary foods and functional foods is twice that of ordinary products.

Channel Transformation: Community group - buying and live - streaming e - commerce are reshaping the circulation chain of imported food.

Certification Upgrade: Organic certification and carbon footprint labels have become new competitive barriers.

You might as well do a simple market test first: Record the shelf share of Thai food in local supermarkets, or analyze the reviews of popular single products through cross - border e - commerce platforms. When you see consumers paying for "authentic Thai flavor", you will understand the real value of this market.

Have you discovered the business opportunities of Thai food around you? Welcome to share the interesting phenomena you have observed.