BANGKOK, Thailand – Rising food prices in Canada are creating new opportunities for Thai food exporters, with demand expected to grow for rice, seafood, fruit, seasonings, ready-to-eat meals and health-focused products. The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has identified Canada as a market with significant potential for Thai food products amid growing pressure on the global food system from climate change, higher energy costs, geopolitical conflicts and supply-chain disruptions. DITP Director-General Sunanta Kangwankulkij said she had instructed Thai trade officials overseas to accelerate efforts to expand markets for Thai goods and services in line with the policy of Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun. The Thai Trade Center in Toronto recently surveyed Canada’s food market and reported growing opportunities for Thai food exporters.
According to the survey, global food prices have continued to rise and are expected to remain elevated for some time. The trend points to deeper structural changes in the global food system rather than a short-term inflationary problem.
Climate change, rising energy costs, geopolitical tensions and vulnerable supply chains are placing increasing pressure on food production and distribution, making food security a major global concern.
Canada is also feeling the impact. Food prices have risen 4.3% over the past year, compared with a 3.1% increase for non-food products, making food one of the major contributors to higher household living costs.
Canada remains heavily dependent on imported food, particularly fruits and vegetables. About 50% of vegetables and 75% of fruit consumed in the country are imported. More than half of these imports come from the United States, while other major suppliers include Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Honduras. However, drought and other climate-related problems have placed additional pressure on production in supplying countries. Geopolitical tensions have also pushed up transportation costs and increased uncertainty across international supply chains. Sunanta said the changing market environment could work in Thailand’s favour. Thailand is already a major global food exporter and has strong capabilities in rice, processed seafood, fruit, seasonings, ready-to-eat food and health-oriented products. These categories are seeing growing demand in international markets, including Canada, the United States and the European Union.
However, she stressed that competition is no longer based on price alone. Canadian and other international consumers are increasingly concerned about food safety, sustainability and environmental impact. Thai producers therefore need to raise production standards and improve supply-chain management to remain competitive. Key areas include developing traceability systems, meeting international standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), reducing carbon emissions during production and developing environmentally friendly packaging.
The DITP said these improvements could help Thai companies move beyond competing on price and create greater value for their products in overseas markets. “The current global food price crisis is the result of interconnected structural factors, including climate change, higher energy costs and geopolitical uncertainty,” Sunanta said. “Although these pressures are affecting consumers worldwide, they also create an important opportunity for Thailand to expand its food exports.”
She said Thai businesses that can adapt, raise standards and add value to their products will be better positioned to capture new demand and strengthen Thailand’s role as a leading global food supplier. For Thai exporters, Canada’s changing food market could therefore represent more than a response to rising prices. It could become an opportunity to establish stronger long-term positions in a market increasingly focused on food security, quality and sustainable supply.
