June 24, 2026
 

Thailand extends AFTA feed corn import window to August amid raw material shortage

A 49% drop in imports over February-April 2026 and a delayed domestic harvest have prompted the government to push the zero-tariff import deadline from 30 June to 31 August.

Thailand's Cabinet has approved an extension of the AFTA feed corn import window for general importers from 30 June to 31 August 2026, in response to a feed raw material shortage and a later-than-usual domestic harvest season.

Thailand produces approximately 5 million tonnes of feed corn annually but relies on average AFTA imports of around 1.57 million tonnes per year to meet domestic feed industry demand. However, imports between February and April 2026 reached only 0.42 million tonnes, down 49% from 0.83 million tonnes over the same period in 2025. The sharp decline was partly attributed to a new import requirement introduced on 1 January 2026 that mandates feed corn imports be produced without burning in the cultivation process, a measure aimed at addressing PM2.5 fine particle pollution.

The import window was originally set to close on 30 June to avoid depressing domestic corn prices, as domestic harvest volumes typically begin reaching the market from July. However, the 2026 production season is tracking differently, with approximately 4.04 million tonnes — or 90.19% of national output — expected to reach the market between September and December, making the original deadline no longer aligned with actual supply conditions.

The government said extending the import window will help ease feed raw material shortages, reduce upward pressure on ingredient prices, lower feed production costs and stabilise the livestock sector. Following Cabinet approval, the Department of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce will issue the relevant regulations. The government said it will manage the import extension to balance feed ingredient supply stability against the need to protect the income of domestic corn farmers.