REPRESENTATIVES of a network of 20 shrimp farming organisations submitted a petition to Deputy Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Watcharaphol Khaokham appealing for help as prices are plummeting after Malaysia imposed a temporary import ban on five Thai shrimp species as part of tighter controls on Thai fishery products, TV Channel 7 said this evening (June 4).
Shrimp farmers urged the government to urgently stabilise prices of their product and expedite negotiations with Malaysia which as of Monday has banned the import of brown tiger prawn, banana prawn, whiteleg shrimp, giant tiger prawn and blue shrimp.
Mr. Yutthana Ratano, president of the Tha Thong Shrimp Farmers Club, revealed that the low farm-gate price of shrimp is as much as 10-20% below the average cost, resulting in continuous losses for farmers.
He insists that the appropriate price for shrimp should be at least 20% above the cost, for example, 100 pieces of shrimp per kilogramme should be priced at around 125-130 baht per kg. He estimates that this year, shrimp farmers nationwide will collectively suffer losses of at least 1 billion baht.
Watcharaphol accepted the shrimp farmers’ proposals and mentioned that relevant agencies have been tasked with gathering information then consider courses of action to alleviate their hardship and maintain the stability of the Thai shrimp industry.
This meeting represents a significant show of unity among shrimp farming organisations nationwide, aiming to convey the united voice of the production sector to the government in order to urgently find a solution to the shrimp price crisis that is severely impacting them.
Malaysia announced strict new measures from Monday (June 1), affecting Thai sea bass and five shrimp species with the measures described as a trade response and an upgrade of national food safety safeguards, The Star newspaper said.
For the sea bass import measure, operators must attach a Certificate of Analysis to every import to confirm that the products meet the food safety standards of Malaysia’s Ministry of Health.
For the measure suspending shrimp imports, Malaysian authorities said it is being carried out as a reciprocal response because Thailand had previously imposed similar conditions on shrimp imports from Malaysia.
The import suspension will continue until Thai agencies submit complete responses to a food-safety standards questionnaire to Malaysian authorities, after which the measure will be reassessed.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page – Shrimp farmers rallying at the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives today, June 4, 2026. Photo – TV Channel 7
Insert – Some Thai shrimps. Photo – Naewna
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