BANGKOK, Dec 15 – Initial flood losses to Thailand’s food industry have been estimated at Bt50 billion.
The figure is the result of a survey carried out by the National Food Institute, the Board of Trade of Thailand, and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
According to the organisations, around 1,300 plants countrywide were impacted by the flood. Most of them, about 950 factories, were located in the capital of Bangkok and its vicinity, excluding Samut Prakan province.
Over 30 food-related industries specialising in packaging, food ingredients and labels were also affected and halted operations due to the flood.
National Food Institute Director Petch Chinabutr said the projection of Thailand’s food exports value this year has been changed as a result of the temporary closure of some Thai food industry factories for at least three months.
Thailand exported over 28 million tonnes of food in the first ten months, a 59-per cent increase year-on-year, with an export value at Bt812 billion, or about a 22 per cent rise.
Mr Petch said Thailand’s export growth will tends to slow in this fourth quarter except for rice, of which about 10.5 million tonnes was projected to be exported in 2011. The amount of rice already exported reached 10.1 million tonnes during the past 11 months.
