Thai industries battle tide of cheap imports: Government gears up for tough measures

[webfact]

In a bid to rescue Thailand‘s floundering manufacturing sector, the Thai government is gearing up for a fierce showdown against a deluge of low-priced imports that threaten to drown local industries.

 

The Commerce Ministry’s crackdown, aimed primarily at products flooding in from China, promises to safeguard Thai manufacturers from the relentless assault on their market share.

 

Thailand’s industrial output has experienced a downward spiral for the past four quarters, sounding alarms within the industrial sector. Ronrong Poonpipat, the director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade, clarified that the Commerce Ministry lacks the authority to outright ban imports. However, it empowers business operators to file complaints, initiating procedures, including anti-dumping measures, to counter market manipulation.

 

Kriengkrai Thiennukul, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), highlighted the influx of low-priced products, attributing it to a fragile global economy and sluggish recovery in purchasing power. The excessive supply of goods from various global sources, particularly China, has led to a disparity in prices, making imported products more affordable than domestically manufactured ones. This trend, notably evident in the steel sector, has left the local steel industry grappling with a production capacity 20% lower than the industry average.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[Geoffggi]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The Commerce Ministry’s crackdown, aimed primarily at products flooding in from China, promises to safeguard Thai manufacturers from the relentless assault on their market share.

Be careful who you get into bed with - China are friends with nobody but themselves fact!!!!

[tomazbodner]

Dare to start with Lazada?

[realfunster]

 
 

[Burma Bill]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

crackdown, aimed primarily at products flooding in from China, 

 

Junk entering Thailand on junk boats?

 

[BenStark]

How about trying to be competitive instead?

[Casino]

Any country that has even a cordial relationship with Communist China would experience the pain deep in the <deleted>.

China is never a friend of any nationality or country in this whole planet.

It is only the moneys you have they interested, not relationship. 

[John Drake]

1 hour ago, realfunster said:

 
 

 

So, the most favorable balance of trade for Thailand is with the US. But Thailand does everything it can to minimize American influence (and Americans) in Thailand. And the US embassy just stumbles along. Perhaps one day the US will start stricter inspection of Thai imports and tariffs and wall them off. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In a bid to rescue Thailand‘s floundering manufacturing sector, the Thai government is gearing up for a fierce showdown against a deluge of low-priced imports that threaten to drown local industries.

Thais love cheap, and China is the master.. good luck curbing imports.

[kingstonkid]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In a bid to rescue Thailand‘s floundering manufacturing sector, the Thai government is gearing up for a fierce showdown against a deluge of low-priced imports that threaten to drown local industries.

 

The Commerce Ministry’s crackdown, aimed primarily at products flooding in from China, promises to safeguard Thai manufacturers from the relentless assault on their market share.

 

Thailand’s industrial output has experienced a downward spiral for the past four quarters, sounding alarms within the industrial sector. Ronrong Poonpipat, the director-general of the Department of Foreign Trade, clarified that the Commerce Ministry lacks the authority to outright ban imports. However, it empowers business operators to file complaints, initiating procedures, including anti-dumping measures, to counter market manipulation.

 

Kriengkrai Thiennukul, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), highlighted the influx of low-priced products, attributing it to a fragile global economy and sluggish recovery in purchasing power. The excessive supply of goods from various global sources, particularly China, has led to a disparity in prices, making imported products more affordable than domestically manufactured ones. This trend, notably evident in the steel sector, has left the local steel industry grappling with a production capacity 20% lower than the industry average.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

YOu know it is not that long ago that countries were complaining about Thailand flooding the market with cheap knock offs.  China started to produce things cheaper.

[peter zwart]

1 hour ago, BenStark said:

How about trying to be competitive instead?

And that includes quality, warranty, after sales, on time delivery  and most of all.....dont rip of people all the time.

[StayinThailand2much]

Damn! Those pesky foreigners again! Exporting their cheap stuff to Thailand...

[Adumbration]

Problem here is not cheap imports. 

 

Like most problems in Thailand the root issue here is corruption.

 

All of the manufacturing in Thailand is held by a few of the elite.

 

So Thais have to put up with the same poor quality, lack of choice junk year in year out.

 

Go to one of the mum and pop plastic shops.  They are selling exactly the same junk they were 15 years ago.

 

Compare that for example with the new DIY franchises (from Malaysia).  Lots of nice new and modern style goods.  Same goes for shopping online.

 

Thai products are the same tired poorly crafted garbage, but the Chinese stuff (not all of it) is modern and of reasonable quality.

 

The tough measures here are to protect the profits of the Thai elite by eliminating competion.

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, BenStark said:

How about trying to be competitive instead?

 

Thailand is the #1 country in the world; best products at best prices...*

 

 

*Beware: sarcasm!

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Dare to start with Lazada?

For those unfamiliar with Lazada history:

Chinese Jack Ma billionaire founder and chairman of Alibaba until 2020, and member of the CCP bought a controlling US$1 billion stake in Lazada in 2016.

"With the investment in Lazada, Alabama gains access to a platform with a large and growing consumer base outside of China .... and a solid foundation for future growth in one of the most promising regions for commerce globally."

April 12, 2016 https://www.techinasia.com

Might remember also that Thailand in 2016 was controlled by the NCPO military junta. 

[Srikcir]

10 minutes ago, Adumbration said:

the Chinese stuff (not all of it) is modern and of reasonable quality.

Especially "Rolex" watches.

[2baht]

When you bow to the Emperor (Xi), what do you expect!

[2baht]

57 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Especially "Rolex" watches.

 Ah, China's famous timepiece! 

[ukrules]

3 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

So, the most favorable balance of trade for Thailand is with the US. But Thailand does everything it can to minimize American influence (and Americans) in Thailand. And the US embassy just stumbles along. Perhaps one day the US will start stricter inspection of Thai imports and tariffs and wall them off. 

 

Not if they really want that fancy new consulate they won't - and they really, really want it for some reason.

 

[billd766]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

 

Not if they really want that fancy new consulate they won't - and they really, really want it for some reason.

 

Perhaps they should not have sold off the old one so quickly.

[brianthainess]

This is another regurgitated story from weeks ago, anyway I'll post the same again;

What else are we supposed to do? Thailand doesn't even make half the stuff I want or stock it.

Good grief they don't even make small electronic items, from replacement remotes, to car spares, electric bikes and scooters.