BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand and Russia are looking to expand agricultural trade, with Bangkok seeking greater access for Thai rice, tropical fruit, processed seafood and pet food, while Moscow has expressed interest in supplying premium beef, wheat, grain, seafood and rapeseed oil.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit outlined the opportunities during the 2nd Russian-Thai Investment Forum in Bangkok, where he delivered a keynote address on food security, agricultural trade and regulations at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel. He said climate change and uncertainty in global supply chains had made food security a major issue not only for agriculture, but also for economic development, social stability and global peace.
Achieving food security requires international cooperation, reliable trading partnerships, diversified sources of supply and improved logistics, he said.
During the forum, Suriya also held talks with Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Vladimir Ilyichev, the Governor of Russia’s Krasnodar region and the Russian ambassador to Thailand. Both sides recognized the potential to combine their respective strengths, develop agricultural and food systems, increase product value and create new trade opportunities.
Thailand is seeking to open and expand the Russian market for pet food, processed fishery products, fresh and processed tropical fruit, and Thai rice. Russia, meanwhile, is interested in exporting premium beef, grains, wheat, seafood and vegetable oils, particularly rapeseed oil, to Thailand.
Further discussions are expected under the bilateral Thailand-Russia agricultural cooperation framework.
Russia currently ranks as Thailand’s 34th-largest agricultural trading partner. Trade in agricultural products between the two countries reached 8.228 billion baht in 2025, recording average annual growth of 7.76%. Thailand has consistently maintained a trade surplus in agricultural products with Russia. Major Thai exports to Russia include prepared tuna, skipjack and bonito, processed pineapple, sauces and seasonings, milled rice, and retail-packed dog and cat food.
