Thailand Soybean and Products Annual 2014

Soybean imports are expected to increase in MY2013/14 and MY2014/15. Trade sources believe Thailand will import 300,000-400,000 MT of U.S. soybean meal in 2014 as opposed to only 16,000 MT in 2012 and 11,000 MT in 2013.

Situation and Outlook

Soybeans

Soybean production in Thailand continues to decline due to its lower profitability as compared to competing crops like corn and off-season rice. The inaccessibility to better yielding seeds has also contributed to the lack of interest in growing soybeans.

Domestic soybean consumption for oil, food use, and direct animal feed use (in the form of full fat soybeans, in MY 2013/14 is expected to recover from a decline in MY 2012/13 in line with rising demand for soybean meal. Soybeans delivered to crushers are likely to increase to 1.55 million metric tons (MMT) in MY 2013/14 from 1.41 MMT in MY 2012/13. The use of soybeans in food production also continues to grow, especially in soymilk production. Total soybean domestic consumption is anticipated to increase another 3 to 4 percent in MY 2014/15.

Soybean imports fell in MY 2012/13 due to weak demand from crushers. The Department of Industrial Economics reported that soybean crushing facilities were running at 48 percent of total capacity to produce refined soybean oil from September 2012 to August 2013 (MY 2012/13), as compared to 56 percent in MY 2011/12.

Soybean imports, however, are estimated to increase to 2 MMT in MY 2013/14 as Thailand’s livestock, poultry, and aquaculture production continues to grow. Imports should climb to 2.1 MMT in MY 2014/15 given the favorable outlook for feed demand.

The production of soybean meal accounts for 60 percent of the total revenues generated by a Thai soybean crusher. Thus, the quality of the soybean is critical for crushers as they have to compete against imported soybean meal. Nonetheless, Thailand’s two largest soybean crushers have a preference for sourcing soybeans from Brazil due to their relatively higher protein and oil content compared to U.S. soybeans. Thai crushers normally import U.S. soybeans when prices are competitive, which usually occurs after the southern hemisphere harvest season.

The U.S. market share of Thailand’s soybean imports fluctuates depending on the supply availability from Brazil and Argentina. U.S. market share dropped to 17 percent in MY 2011/12 from 24 percent in MY 2010/11. It then recovered to 32 percent in MY 2012/13 as a result of serious drought in Brazil and Argentina. U.S. market share is likely to fall again to 19 to 20 percent in MY 2013/14 as soybean crop production in the southern hemisphere return to normal levels.

Food-grade soybean imports continue to grow as demand from the Thai food industry rises. The food industry prefers domestic soybeans over imported beans due to their freshness and “biotech-free” status. However, with growing demand and a downward trend in domestic supplies, processors are increasingly relying on imported soybeans to meet their needs.

The Office of Agricultural Economics (AOE) reported that food-grade soybean imports increased by 4 percent to 67,000 MT in 2013 from 64,000 MT in 2012. The United States and Canada remain major food-grade soybeans suppliers to Thailand.

Thailand’s trade policy for soybeans is unchanged since the last report. According to its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments, Thailand has a soybean tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 10,922 MT, an in-quota tariff of 20 percent, and an out-of-quota tariff of 80 percent. However, due to the lack of domestic supplies, Thailand usually imports more than its TRQ commitment. On November 30, 2013 the Thai Cabinet approved an unlimited import soybean quota with a zero tariff from WTO member countries for a period of three years from 2014 to 2016. Despite the approved policy, the Thai Government still has to issue import permits and soybean importers are still required to purchase domestic soybeans at government determined prices. As for 2014, the determined prices for domestic soybeans for crushing grades were set at 16.25 baht/kg in Bangkok (US$ 508/MT) as opposed to 14.75 baht/kg (US$ 461/MT) in 2013. Feed-use grade soybeans were set at 16.50 baht/kg (US$ 516/MT) in 2014 compared to 15.00 baht/kg (US$ 469/MT) in 2013. Prices for food-grade soybeans were 18.50 baht/kg (US$ 578/MT) as opposed to 17.00 baht/kg (US$ 531/MT) in 2013.

Thai soybean crushers are expected to benefit from the upcoming economic integration of ASEAN countries, otherwise known as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which will come into effect in 2015. Since Thailand currently has the largest soybean oil crushing capacity in Southeast Asia, (current capacities are more than 10,000 MT/day in Thailand as compared to 4,000 MT/day in Vietnam and none in other ASEAN countries), trade sources expect that Thailand will become a major supplier of soybean oil and soybean meal to other ASEAN economies.

Oil Meal

Soybean Meal

Soybean meal production is estimated to recover by 10 percent to 1.21 MMT in MY 2013/14 and increase another 3 percent to 1.25 MMT in MY 2014/15 in line with estimated soybean deliveries to crushers for soybean meal production (excluding soybean deliveries for full fat soybean production).

All soybean meal, either derived from domestic production or imports, is utilized for animal feed production. Consumption of soybean meal in MY 2012/13 fell due to stagnant chicken meat production and a sharp reduction in shrimp production. Trade sources reported that Thailand’s chicken meat production is expected to slightly decrease because of the exit of Saha Farms (SF), one of the largest poultry operations in the country, from the Thai poultry market. SF’s departure is expected to enable the rest of Thailand’s poultry producers to increase their production, although it will just be enough to fill the void left by SF. In the meantime, the outbreak of shrimp disease called Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) has caused Thailand’s shrimp production to decline by 40-50 percent in 2013.

Soybean meal consumption is expected to increase by 6 percent in MY 2013/14 based on feed demand from Thailand’s livestock sector, especially broiler, poultry layers, hogs. Thailand’s chicken meat production in 2014 is estimated to grow by 6-7 percent in line with the increased export opportunities. The recent resumption of uncooked Thai chicken exports to Japan should spur growth for Thai chicken production in 2014. Anticipated economic growth in Japan and the European Union are also expected to fuel demand for Thai poultry products. Total exports in 2014 are forecast to rise by 12 percent to 580,000 MT from 520,000 MT in 2013. Favorable prices are also resulting in expanded production for hogs and chicken layers. In addition, the implementation of EMS disease control and surveillance programs in shrimp production has reportedly reduced the mortality rates in shrimp farms. Ongoing expansion in animal and meat production should result in higher soybean meal consumption in MY 2014/15.

Prices for imported and domestic soybean meal increased sharply in the second half of 2012 due to tight world soybean meal supplies caused by dry weather conditions in major producing countries. Prices then weakened in the first half of 2013 in line with a better outlook of increased global supplies. Average prices for domestic soybean in 2013 were 18.15 baht/kg (US$ 567/MT) compared to 18.09 baht/kg (US$ 565/MT) in 2012.

In the past, local crushers basically had a stronghold on the domestic soybean meal market and were able to sell their supplies at higher prices on the basis of having fresher quality and protein consistency compared to soybean meal imports. In response to the crushers’ influence, Thai feed mills pooled their resources to import soybean meal in Panamax vessels. Their strategy successfully enabled them to purchase commodities in the futures market and import larger volumes of soybean meal, which in turn helped the feed mills better manage risks from the volatile prices. The new strategy increased the feed mills’ bargaining power with the domestic crushers and as a result, changed the market dynamics and forced domestic soybean crushers to offer more competitive prices to Thai feed mills.

The altered market dynamics consequently decreased the price differential between locally produced soybean meal and imported soybean meal. At the time that the feed mills began importing larger volumes of soybean meal, domestic crushers were already holding sizeable inventories of soybean meal. As a result, prices for domestically produced soybean meal dropped below imported soybean meal prices in January-February 2013. This irregularity ended shortly after soybean crushers slowed their soybean oil crushing activities. Currently, prices for domestic soybean meal are 18.50-19.00 baht/kg (US$ 578-594/MT) as compared to 19.50-20.00 baht/kg (US$ 609-625/MT) for imported soybean meal.

Like the production of soybean meal, imports of soybean meal also shrunk in MY 2012/13 reflecting a decline in animal feed production. Soybean meal imports in MY2013/14 are expected to be 11 percent higher than MY 2012/13 and climb another 3 percent in MY 2014/15. Thailand’s major soybean meal import suppliers are Brazil, Argentina, and India. In 2013, Argentinian soybean meal imports dominated the Thai market accounting for a 53 percent share, followed by Brazil with 34 percent, and India with 12 percent. Trade sources reported that U.S. soybean meal recently became more competitive as U.S. soybean meal prices declined sharply in October and November 2013. As a result, Thailand is likely to import 300,000-400,000 MT of U.S. soybean meal in 2014.

Soybean meal imports are also subject to the WTO’s TRQ system, with a quota of 239,559 MT and a 20 percent tariff rate. However, Thailand has improved on its WTO commitments. In November 2011, the Thai Cabinet approved an unlimited soybean meal import quota for two years (2012-2014). The tariff rate applied to the quota is set at 2 percent (as compared to 20 percent bound with WTO). The out-of-quota tariff rate is 119 percent. Despite these changes, there are still restrictions regarding the import of soybean meal. For example, only eight trade associations have access to the WTO import quota and specific companies/importers will be allocated a portion of the quota. Furthermore, the eligible companies/importers must first purchase fixed-priced locally produced soybean meal and only after local supplies are exhausted can the importer bring in imported soybean meal. Currently, domestic soybean meal prices cannot be less than 11.25 baht/kg ($370/MT).

In addition to the previously mentioned policy changes, the Thai Cabinet also approved zero tariff rates for soybean meal imports under the Thailand-ASEAN free trade agreement (AFTA), Thailand-Australia FTA (TAFTA), Thailand-New Zealand FTA (TNFTA), and the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA). Under the ASEAN-Korea FTA (AKFTA), the import quota for soybean meal is unlimited and in-quota imports are subject to a 4.44 percent tariff rate in 2012, 3.33 percent in 2013, and 2.22 percent in 2014. Any imports which do not fall in any of the aforementioned categories will be unlimited, but will be charged a tariff of 6 percent plus a special charge of 2,519 baht/MT (approx. $79/MT). Details of the Cabinet’s decision are reported in FAS/Bangkok GAIN report “Thai Cabinet Approves Tariff Rate Quota for Three Feed Ingredients.”

Soybean Oil

Soybean oil production is expected to increase in MY2013/14 and MY2014/15, in line with higher soybean deliveries to crushing plants.

Trade sources reported that household demand for soybean oil has not shown any growth in the past few years since prices for soybean oil are typically higher than competing palm oil. Growth in domestic soybean oil consumption depends on industrial demand (i.e. canned tuna, paints, and cosmetics). Total domestic consumption of soybean oil is estimated at around 180,000 MT in MY 2013/14 and MY 2014/15.

Reflecting decreased crushing activities, exports of soybean oil dropped to 55,525 MT in 2013 as compared to 60,396 MT in 2012. Major importers in 2012 included Vietnam (43 percent), South Korea (22 percent), Malaysia (11 percent), and the Philippines (9 percent). Thailand is becoming a large supplier of soybean oil to other ASEAN and Asian economies. In the recent years, Thailand has expanded its soybean oil export markets to more than 20 countries, mainly in Asian countries.

Imports of soybean oil (crude and refined) are subject to a tariff-rate-quota (TRQ) system under the WTO agreement. Additionally, a complicated and bureaucratic administration of import permits discourages imports. Currently, the TRQ for soybean oil is limited to 2,281 tons and is subject to a 20 percent tariff rate. The tariff rate for out-of-quota imports is prohibitively high at 146 percent. This has resulted in no imports in recent years and the trend is expected to continue.