USDA leads agricultural trade mission to Thailand

US agribusinesses and state representatives to explore opportunities in $1.2 billion market.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is set to launch a significant trade mission to Bangkok, Thailand, from February 3-6, 2025, aiming to boost agricultural exports and strengthen trade relationships in the Southeast Asian region. The delegation, led by Foreign Agricultural Service Acting Associate Administrator Patrick Packnett, includes nearly 40 agribusinesses, trade organizations, and representatives from five state departments of agriculture.

Key aspects of the trade mission include:

  1. Market Potential: Thailand, the fifth-largest supplier of U.S. agricultural products in Southeast Asia, imported $1.2 billion worth of goods in 2023.

  2. Growth Opportunities: With Thailand's expanding middle class and projected 2.6% real GDP growth in 2024, the market shows strong potential for U.S. consumer-oriented products.

  3. Diverse Participation: The mission features a wide range of U.S. agricultural sectors, from dairy and meat to peanuts and wine.

  4. State Representation: Officials from North Dakota, Idaho, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin will join the mission, highlighting the broad national interest in expanding agricultural exports.

  5. Business Networking: Participants will engage in business-to-business meetings with importers from Thailand and Burma, and attend briefings by USDA staff and regional trade experts.

Patrick Packnett emphasized the mission's significance: "This mission is not just about boosting exports—it is about creating enduring partnerships that benefit American farmers and meet the growing demand of Southeast Asian consumers for high-quality, U.S.-grown products."

The trade mission represents a strategic move by the USDA to diversify and expand U.S. agricultural exports, particularly in consumer-oriented products. With Thailand's population of 70 million and its rising economic status, the country presents a promising market for American agricultural goods.

Companies and originations represented on the trade mission:

  • ADM Asia Pacific Trading – Decatur, Ill.
  • Ag World Int’l Corp - Bloomington, Ill.
  • Agrifred Exports US - Murray, Iowa
  • American Egg Board - Chicago, Ill.
  • American Peanut Council - Alexandria, Va.
  • Association of Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers - Seattle, Wash.
  • Carter International - Panama City Beach, Fla.
  • CAS InterGlobal - Pleasanton, Calif.
  • Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin - Madison, Wis.
  • Flying Horse Services, Inc - Arcadia, Calif.
  • Globex - New York, N.Y
  • Grassland Dairy Products, Inc - Greenwood, Wis.
  • Herr Foods, Inc - Nottingham, Pa.
  • Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) - Billing, Mont.
  • Kizable, LLC - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
  • Lead (USA) Global Group LLC - Monterey Park, Calif.
  • Moyen (Love Angela M Reference Lab) - San Bernardino, Calif.
  • Olam Food Ingredients - Chicago, Ill,
  • Pacific Cheese Co., Inc - Hayward, Calif.
  • PacRim Wine & Spirits - San Rafael, Calif.
  • Parker-Migliorini International LLC - Salt Lake City, Utah
  • PIC Inc. - Hendersonville, Tenn.
  • Premium Peanut - Douglas, Ga.
  • Raisin Administrative Committee - Fresno, Calif.
  • Rivermaid Trading Co - Lodi, Calif.
  • Schreiber Foods - Green Bay, Wis.
  • Scott Brothers Dairy - Chino, Calif.
  • Secret Creamery - Las Vegas, Nev.
  • Simplot Animal Sciences - Emmett, Idaho
  • SMART Reproduction - Jonesboro, Ark.
  • Space Enterprises LLC - The Woodlands, Texas
  • Trex Crop Inc - Burlingame, Calif.
  • Trident Seafoods Corp - Seattle, Wash.
  • U.S. Grains Council - Washington, D.C.
  • U.S. International Foods - St. Louis, Mo.
  • U.S. Meat Export Federation, Inc - Denver, Colo.
  • United Dairy Ingredients Group LLC - Monterey Park, Calif.
  • Wilridge Vineyard, Winery, and Distillery - Yakima, Wash.

This initiative aligns with the USDA's ongoing efforts to support U.S. farmers and agribusinesses in accessing new markets and strengthening their position in the global trade arena. The diverse group of participants, ranging from small businesses to large corporations and industry associations, reflects the comprehensive approach taken to represent various sectors of the U.S. agricultural industry.

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