As Southeast Asia’s second largest economy, Thailand is a major importer of soymeal, importing 4.9 million metric tons in marketing year 2023. Because Thailand relies on imported soybeans, covering about 99 percent of its use in animal feed, vegetable oils and food, it is an ideal market opportunity for U.S. soybeans leaving the country via the Pacific Northwest (PNW). 

Northern Soy Marketing (NSM) Executive Director Gary Williams and Director Patrick O’Leary attended a trade mission to Thailand March 24-28. While on the ground, they were able to meet with various Asia-based NSM partners to build personal relationships and expand trade partnerships.  

The companies NSM met with included: 

• Betagro, a leading agro-industrial and food company.  

• Thaifoods Group, a vertically integrated animal protein company with six feed mills in Thailand. 

• Thai Vegetable Oil, which processes 6,000 tons of soybeans per day and manufactures soymeal and edible oil for both domestic and international markets. 

• United Feed Mill, which produces high-quality swine feed that promotes faster, healthier development. 

• Grainland, a Turkish agricultural commodity trading company. 

• Inteqc Group, a producer of animal feed and food products 

• Thai Union Feedmill, which produces and distributes aquatic fish feed both domestically and internationally. 

• Sun Feed, a manufacturer of prepared feeds and feed ingredients for animals and fowls. 

• Ceres Commodities, which specializes in trading of animal feed ingredients and agricultural commodities. 

While in country, NSM brought its soy quality messaging, emphasizing the importance of considering critical essential amino acid content, rather than crude protein, as the true measure of soy quality. The NSM delegation also hosted a seminar, “Understanding U.S. Soy Quality,” in Bangkok.