Bangkok: In 2015, Thailand's cassava exports experienced significant growth, with ongoing negotiations aimed at expanding the market in New Zealand.
According to Thai News Agency, the Department of Foreign Trade reported that in the first seven months of 2025, cassava exports reached 5.62 million tons, representing a 35.75% increase compared to the previous year's 4.14 million tons. This increase highlights the sustained international demand for Thai cassava.
Ms. Arada Fueangthong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, attributed the growth to the Ministry of Commerce's strategic initiatives, which focus on enhancing trade opportunities and opening global markets. The policy is rooted in promoting the "Thais make, Thais use, Thais help Thais" approach to boost sustainable competitiveness across all sectors of the supply chain.
The rise in export volume is the result of the department's continuous efforts to penetrate new markets and expand existing ones. Key activities included sending delegations to the People's Republic of China and Saudi Arabia and hosting the World Tapioca Conference 2025, which drew over 1,000 participants. These initiatives have significantly bolstered Thai cassava exports.
Ms. Arada mentioned that plans for the second half of the year include sending a delegation to New Zealand in September to negotiate market expansion. The goal is to cater to the increasing demand in downstream industries such as animal feed and food.
Despite the increase in export volume, the export value decreased to approximately 61,856.94 million baht, a 12.56% drop from the previous year's 70,743.79 million baht. This decline was mainly due to a reduction in global cassava prices, influenced by the falling prices of animal feed corn, a substitute product.
The Department of Foreign Trade emphasized its commitment to promoting market expansion plans, focusing on discovering new potential markets and broadening trade opportunities to sustain the growth of Thai cassava exports throughout 2025.