The mobile cabinet has approved adding mature coconuts and coconut products to the state price control list as part of efforts to deal with the domestic coconut price slump. Once on the price control list, manufacturers have to secure prior approval from the Internal Trade Department before changing the size and price of their products. The Commerce Ministry recently threatened to blacklist 10 coconut importers that failed to provide clarity on their import data. There are more than 80 coconut importers registered with the Foreign Trade Department that import coconuts as raw materials for their factories. In 2017, Thailand imported 416,124 tonnes of coconuts worth 4.62 billion baht, with 384,102 tonnes from Indonesia, 15,613 tonnes from Vietnam, 2,864 tonnes from Myanmar and 13,524 tonnes from Malaysia.

Source: Bangkok Post October 30, 2018 23:37 UTC