Wholesale Palm Oil Suppliers in Thailand

Thailand's palm oil industry: southern provinces, major producers, and ASEAN market position

Thailand produces approximately 2.5–3.0 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO) annually, making it Southeast Asia's third-largest palm oil producer after Indonesia and Malaysia. Thailand's oil palm cultivation is concentrated almost entirely in the southern provinces: Krabi (the largest producing province, with extensive coastal and valley plantations), Surat Thani, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Satun, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat — these 11 southern provinces collectively account for approximately 95% of Thailand's total oil palm planted area. The Thai oil palm industry is dominated by smallholder farmers who cultivate approximately 80% of total planted area, primarily in plots of 1–10 ha, working in conjunction with private estate companies and government-supported cooperatives. Key Thai palm oil companies: Thai Vegetable Oil PCL (TVO, listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand) — one of Thailand's largest vegetable oil refineries, produces palm olein, stearin, and specialty palm fractions for domestic food industry and export; Sribhumi Palm Industry Co., Ltd. (Krabi) — significant CPO producer and refinery; Universal Palm Oil PCL (Surat Thani) — integrated estate and milling operation; Charan Oil Factory (Surat Thani) — traditional regional palm oil processor; Cargill Thailand (operates refining and specialty fat production); Bunge Thailand — operates palm oil trading and processing through Bangkok. Thailand's palm oil is primarily consumed domestically — the Thai domestic cooking oil market is the largest single end-use, followed by industrial food manufacturing (margarine, shortening, instant noodle frying oil). Thailand is a net importer of palm oil to supplement domestic production shortfalls during the January–April and July–August low-production periods, primarily importing from Indonesia and Malaysia. Thailand's annual palm oil exports are modest compared to Indonesia and Malaysia, typically 100,000–300,000 tonnes, mainly refined RBD products exported to neighbouring ASEAN countries, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and some Middle East markets.

ATSC certification, Thai FDA regulation, and palm oil export procedures from Bangkok and Laem Chabang

Thai Sustainable Palm Oil (TSPO) — known as ATSC (Thai Sustainable Palm Oil Certification System) — is Thailand's national voluntary palm oil sustainability certification scheme, developed by the Thailand Palm Oil Sustainability Alliance (TPOSA) with support from Proforest. ATSC covers legal compliance, plantation management practices, environmental protection, worker welfare, and supply chain traceability; ATSC certification is positioned to align with international sustainability requirements including RSPO principles and criteria. The RSPO also operates in Thailand: several Thai palm oil companies and mills hold RSPO certification, primarily supplying to European food manufacturing buyers. Thai FDA (Food and Drug Administration, within the Ministry of Public Health) regulates edible vegetable oils sold in Thailand: packaged palm oil products require Thai FDA registration; quality parameters for refined palm oil are defined in Thai FDA notification No. 23 (Edible Fats and Oils Standards). Thai ACFS (National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards — Mog Mattrathan) sets quality standards for agricultural products including crude palm oil; Thai ACFS-certified CPO and related agricultural quality marks may accompany export documents. Export documentation required for Thai palm oil: Export Form (Customs Form 101 / Bai Sarn Singh Khao) submitted to Thai Customs Department; Certificate of Origin (Form D for ASEAN, or GSP Form A for eligible markets); Thai FDA Certificate of Export (for packaged food products); Certificate of Analysis (CoA from accredited laboratory); Phytosanitary Certificate (issued by Department of Agriculture); Health Certificate (for food products, from Department of Livestock Development if applicable); ATSC/RSPO transaction certificates if applicable. Export logistics: Laem Chabang Port (Chonburi, near Bangkok) is Thailand's main container and bulk liquid export terminal, operated by Laem Chabang Port Authority — Laem Chabang handles most Thai palm oil containerised exports (flexitanks, ISO tanks, drums); Bangkok Port (Klong Toey) handles some vegetable oil exports but primarily serves domestic distribution; Southern Thailand refineries in Krabi and Surat Thani also have direct jetty loading facilities for CPO and bulk refined products. HS codes: CPO (1511.10.00 — TH MFN tariff 30%+), RBD palm olein (1511.90.20), palm stearin (1511.90.90).

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