Thailand approves big jump in US corn imports

Cabinet also okays zero tariff rate plus measures to protect local farmers

Thailand’s cabinet has agreed to increase the amount of feed corn the country imports from the United States and to cut the tariff to zero, as part of ongoing trade negotiations with Washington, an official said on Tuesday.

Thailand will import 1 million tonnes of zero-tariff corn from the United States between February and June 2026, government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said. That compares with a previous annual quota of 54,700 tonnes at a tariff of 20%.

Thailand consumes about 9 million tonnes of feed corn annually, importing 4 to 5 million tonnes, according to government data.

“These measures were part of negotiations with the United States, but the government will minimise the impact on farmers,” Mr Siripong said.

Feed mills will be required to purchase three tonnes of locally grown corn for every one tonne of imported supplies they acquire, he said.

As well, the narrow import window from Feb 1 to June 30 does not overlap with Thailand’s main harvest in the final quarter, and therefore will not put pressure on domestic prices.

Thailand recently decided to ban feed-corn imports from countries that use crop burning starting next year, in an effort to curb cross-border air pollution that plagues much of Southeast Asia.

That new rule is already expected to favour US shipments, as most of Thailand’s current corn imports come from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, where slash-and-burn farming remains common.

The cabinet also approved soybean meal imports for 2026 to 2028 from 11 importers, with a tariff set at 2%, said Mr Siripong.

Thailand’s total feed demand is projected to rise to 21.8 million tonnes this year, up from 21.1 million tonnes in 2024, according to industry estimates. About 60% of the country’s feed ingredients — mainly corn, soybean meal and wheat — are imported.