Anthrax Outbreak Halts Thai Beef Exports to Vietnam, Border Trade Suffers Massive Losses

Picture courtesy of Amarin

An outbreak of anthrax in livestock has caused a major disruption to Thailand’s border trade, with beef exports to Vietnam suspended indefinitely. The halt has triggered an estimated monthly loss of nearly 500 million baht.

While the northeastern border province of Nakhon Phanom has not recorded any anthrax infections, it has nonetheless been severely impacted by the disease’s spread in other regions. Nakhon Phanom plays a key role in the export of live cattle through the Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, connecting Thailand to Khammouane province in Laos, a crucial route for beef exports to Vietnam.

Reports indicate that Vietnam has been importing around 10,000 head of cattle per month from Thailand, generating a monthly trade value of between 300 and 500 million baht. Each animal is valued between 50,000 and 80,000 baht, making the trade a vital source of income for Thai cattle farmers. In the past two months alone, exports peaked at 15,000 cattle per month.

However, Vietnam has now suspended beef imports from Thailand due to growing concerns over the anthrax outbreak, effectively freezing trade via the border checkpoint. Authorities warn that if the situation is not resolved quickly, financial losses could exceed half a billion baht per month.

In response, the Department of Livestock Development, in collaboration with Nakhon Phanom provincial officials and relevant agencies, has initiated urgent talks with counterparts in Laos and Vietnam to resume the trade as soon as possible. Efforts are also being made to bolster disease prevention measures, reassure buyers, and establish new standards to restore confidence in the safety of Thai livestock.

Authorities are simultaneously encouraging Thai farmers to continue and expand cattle breeding efforts, given Vietnam’s sustained demand. Officials stress that the Vietnamese market remains a significant opportunity for Thai beef producers and are working to ensure long-term stability in cross-border livestock trade.

Related article:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1359368-anthrax-death-reported-in-mukdahan-province/

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-20.