(Police photo)Police say that Chinese companies hiding behind Thai nominees illegally control aromatic coconut production in Ratchaburi province, hurt Thai farmers by keeping farm prices very low, and make huge profits from exports. Representatives of the Central Investigation Bureau and the Department of Business Development told a press conference on Tuesday that the hardship experienced by Thai coconut growers in Ratchaburi and adjacent provinces had prompted an investigation because foreign demand remained high for Thai aromatic coconut products. The companies technically had Thai shareholders who held 51% stakes but in fact those Thais were the employees of Chinese investors. According to the authorities, the companies operated as middlemen and exporters and controlled farm prices. “This practice excluded Thai farmers from normal trade systems and caused coconut prices at plantations nationwide to plunge and become unstable,” he said.

Source: Bangkok Post March 10, 2026 12:06 UTC