Lieutenant Colonel Thammanat has instructed the Office of Agricultural Economics to summarize import and export data of agricultural products involving Middle Eastern countries, assessing the situation amid fears of a prolonged war, with particular concern about fertilizers.
On 2 March 2026, Lieutenant Colonel Thammanat Prompao, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, spoke about the Middle East conflict, stating he has ordered the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) to compile all import and export data to evaluate the situation and its impacts.
The most worrisome product is fertilizer, since its raw materials are imported from those countries. Regarding exports, he has ordered a full data summary to assess which products are affected. Another summary will be made on Wednesday, 4 March, before planning solutions.
Meanwhile, Mr. Winaroj Sapsongsuk, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said after Lieutenant Colonel Thammanat convened an urgent meeting over tensions in the Middle East, that Thailand's agricultural exports to the region total tens of billions of baht. Key products include rice, canned tuna, and meat products like chicken. They are currently assessing impacts on export volume and prices, but analysis must clarify which countries within the region receive Thai goods, as the conflict area is near major port cities used for shipping.
Initially, discussions have been held with agricultural agencies and relevant associations to closely monitor regional impacts. It is acknowledged there may be some effects impacting farmers domestically, so continuous monitoring is necessary. Clear impacts are seen in production costs, especially rising oil prices, which affect fertilizer prices and other production inputs, thereby increasing farmers' costs.
Mr. Winaroj added that the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives has tasked officials to closely track the situation and prepare measures to support farmers, including finding new markets in other regions, assisting those affected, and monitoring agricultural labor continuously.
However, to design cost-reduction measures or farmer assistance programs, it is necessary to review exporter data to identify which farming areas are affected by exports to those countries, ensuring targeted help. Impact assessments will continue quarterly.