Efforts are underway to resolve Malaysia's suspension of imports of five Thai shrimp species. Minister Suriya is scheduled to fly to Malaysia on 17 June to negotiate at the policy level and promote problem-solving, including adjusting inspection measures for seabass imports to lessen impacts on farmers.
On 11 June 2026, Captain Patdarasmi Thongsaluaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the government is not remaining idle regarding the situation. Malaysia has suspended imports of five Thai shrimp species. Since 1 June 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has closely monitored the situation and is actively negotiating and seeking solutions promptly to protect the interests of Thai farmers and entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, immediately coordinated with Malaysian counterparts upon receiving reports of the impacts. He sent a letter to the Malaysian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to request policy-level discussions and to promote sustainable problem-solving. He confirmed his readiness to personally travel for negotiations next week (17 June).
The Deputy Government Spokesperson added that the Ministry of Agriculture is expediting a review of seabass import inspection procedures from Malaysia, which are linked to these measures. The Department of Fisheries is working to streamline the inspection process by incorporating technology to accelerate analysis, aiming to reduce processing time from about 15 days to around 7 days, while maintaining strict food safety and consumer protection standards.
Additionally, the Ministry has invited representatives from the Thai Shrimp Association, allied shrimp farmers, and relevant private sector stakeholders to discuss proposals and assess the impacts. The Department of Fisheries has been tasked with collecting recommendations to upgrade the entire Thai shrimp industry and formulate collaborative operational plans with all sectors moving forward.
Regarding urgent relief measures, the Ministry of Agriculture will collaborate with the Ministry of Commerce to monitor price situations and address potential impacts on shrimp farmers. Meanwhile, the Department of Fisheries is preparing measures to reduce production costs, promote the use of technology and clean energy in aquaculture, and encourage domestic shrimp consumption to support farmers’ incomes and strengthen the Thai shrimp industry in the long term.