The government is advancing the expansion of Thailand's livestock market by partnering with leading Chinese enterprises to rapidly open the export market for 1.2 million live cattle annually. Bang Saphan is designated as an international standard disease quarantine center to support exports to the Chinese market.
On 20 June 2026 GMT+7, Lieutenant Colonel Phatdarasmit Thongsaluaykorn, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, stated that the government supports expanding Thai agricultural markets and raising farmers’ incomes. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is accelerating cooperation with Thai private sectors and the People’s Republic of China to open the live cattle export market from Thailand to China, one of the world’s largest beef consumer markets.
Recently, Mr. Chai Watcharong, Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, chaired a meeting with the Department of Livestock Development, Thai private sector representatives, and leading Chinese companies under China Merchants Group to drive Thailand’s live cattle export project to China into concrete progress.
The Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said the project aims to collect live cattle from Thai farmers for monthly sea exports of 100,000 head, approximately 1.2 million annually. This presents a major opportunity to expand market channels and increase income for cattle farmers nationwide. Plans also include investing in additional high-standard slaughterhouses in Thailand to support future growth of the beef industry.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is closely monitoring progress in negotiations with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC). They have reduced sanitary and veterinary safety queries from over 40 to only 4 key issues, marking significant progress toward officially opening the export market.
Simultaneously, preparations are underway to survey Bang Saphan Port in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province for development into a large-scale animal quarantine station to screen diseases to international standards before export. This will enhance Thailand’s potential as a regional livestock trade hub.
Lieutenant Colonel Phatdarasmit said China currently imports about 2.7 million tons of beef annually from abroad, valued at between 675 billion and 810 billion baht, and requires live cattle equivalent to over 13.5 million head annually. This represents a significant opportunity for Thai cattle farmers to access a large, high-potential market. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives aims to promote Thailand’s first live cattle export shipment to China within one year to sustainably elevate Thailand’s beef industry on the global stage.